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{
    "id": 472937,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/472937/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 319,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mutua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13137,
        "legal_name": "Robert Mutemi Mutua",
        "slug": "robert-mutemi-mutua"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak on this Bill, which I support. This Bill has come at the right time for a number of reasons: Firstly, Kenya is discovering minerals in various places which have, for a long time, been relying on food relief supplies. This means, if we can be honest and do the right thing at the right time, areas which used to be very poor and totally dependent on relief food supplies will become self-sufficient and hubs of economic activities in this country. I would like to emphasise the need to involve the county governments. This Bill does not speak very clearly on the involvement of the county governments. I would like the county governments to be recognised as key stakeholders. Even though we have not devolved that function, it is important for them to participate, particularly in terms of the agreement section, which falls under Part VII, starting with Clause 95. That way, the county governments can begin to play an active role in terms of mitigating any negative consequences that may come up due to mining of minerals. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, this Bill needs to recognize the importance of giving the first priority of employment to local communities in the mining areas, so that we do not have mining activities that do not benefit the local communities that are displaced or relocated elsewhere. Therefore, communities in mining areas must play an active role in terms of employment, equitable sharing of the benefits and involvement in the activities related to mining. This Bill needs to provide for infrastructural development. It should make it mandatory for mining companies to, first and foremost, develop the infrastructure of the region where they will be carrying out mining activities, so that the communities living in those areas can appreciate that discovery of minerals in their region is not a curse but a blessing. In addition, the Bill must address issues of displacement. There are people living in areas where mining activities will take place. Most of those people do not have title deeds. This Bill must address the issue of issuance of title deeds before commencement of mining activities, so that the communities in those areas can benefit. A good example is Mui Basin, where 500 million tons of coal worth Kshs3.5 trillion is expected to be mined. That is a huge income for the country. However, the communities in that area are very worried because they do not have title deeds. The land registration process is not complete and yet, we are at the verge of beginning mining. This is bound to generate conflict of interest between the mining company and the communities living there. This Bill needs to address that situation. We should not leave the issues and the processes involved at the mercy of those who are purporting to speak on behalf of other people. 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."
}