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{
    "id": 459491,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/459491/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 40,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Gethenji",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2874,
        "legal_name": "James Ndungu Gethenji",
        "slug": "james-ndungu-gethenji"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. The Member for Kiambaa, hon. Paul Koinange, requested for a Statement on the following issues related to South Sudan:- (i) Government facilitation on trade and investment by Kenyans in South Sudan; (ii) status of implementation on construction of an oil pipeline from Lamu to South Sudan; and, (iii) status of South Sudan membership to the East African Community (EAC). Hon. Speaker, as a way of introduction, there is an estimated 30,000 Kenyans living and working in South Sudan in both the formal and informal sectors. Kenya is the second-largest exporter to South Sudan after Uganda, with an estimated annual trade of over US$200 million. Popular export products include Tusker beer and construction materials such as cement and steel. Kenya is also one of the leading investors in South Sudan with dominance in air services by Kenya Airways and Flight 540. In the banking sector, Kenya Commercial Bank has 21 branches; Equity Bank, 19 branches; and Co- operative Bank, one branch. In the insurance sector, the UAP Insurance Company is dominating the market. Kenyans have also invested in the small and medium size enterprise sector as well as in petroleum products, real estate, hospitality and transport. In the road transport sector, we have Simba Coach, El Waal Coach and Kampala Coach operating there. Hon. Speaker, in view of this, the Government has put in place measures aimed at facilitating trade and investment by Kenyans in South Sudan. This has largely been done through conclusion of bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements with the Government of South Sudan. For example, on 19th December, 2012, an MoU was signed between the Central Bank of Kenya and the Bank of South Sudan. The MoU spells out modalities of engagement between the two banks with a view to fast-tracking implementation of identified areas of co-operation. A key aspect of the MoU is negotiations on bilateral exchange rate between the Kenya Shilling and the South Sudan Pound. This is aimed at solving the problem of conversion of South Sudan Pounds into Kenya Shillings for use by the Kenyan business community. In Addition, the following MoUs and agreements have been concluded between Kenya and South Sudan to provide mechanisms for engagement in the trade and investment sectors:- (i) agreement on technical, economic and cultural co-operation; (ii) MoU on technical assistance, co-operation in training and capacity building; (iii) technical assistance co-operation in placement of 80 civil servants through the Republic of South Sudan-IGAD countries Programme; (iv) MoU on delivery of quality oil pipeline and fibre optic infrastructure services; (v) MoU on technical assistance, co-operation in training and capacity building in the health sector; (vi) joint venture agreement between the Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Government of South Sudan; and, (vii) MoU on mutual administrative assistance in customs and taxes between Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and South Sudan Customs Services. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}