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{
    "id": 499889,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/499889/?format=api",
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    "content": "with by the Senate. That then is what I would call the constitutional rundown on what we are doing here in the Senate. The Mining Bill, which is what has brought out clearly these issues, is a Bill to do with resources of this country and the sharing of resources. Sen. (Dr.) Zani has come up with a Bill which is quite similar and has to do with the sharing of resources. The question is: How do we share these resources without involving the Senate, which protects the counties? These resources are to be found in the counties. Therefore, if there has to be sharing of resources, it has to be dealt with, with a view to benefiting the people who live in the counties and the county governments have to be interested in what is happening to their minerals. Those are matters that quite obviously touch on counties. Of the 46 Bills of the National Assembly that have been assented to, to the exclusion of the Senate, I dare say that 90 per cent or maybe even 99 per cent of them touch on counties and, therefore should have gone through here. This is why we, as the Senate, have now said that enough is enough. We must do what is right and protect the law because we swore to protect and abide by the Constitution. How do we go about it? In my considered opinion, one of the reasons that there have been conflicts in Africa is because of lack of institutions - people not wanting to create and deal with institutions – or assuming institutions because of their own partisan interests. That is why you find conflicts in some nations in Africa, particularly where they have oil and other minerals. This is because people are not consulted. There is no agreement on how the revenues will be shared. Multinationals come and exploit our resources, neglect the local people, destroy the environment and then want to get away with it. People have said: “Enough is enough. We are not going to agree with that.” These are people in the counties whom we swore to protect as a Senate. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when we finally get to extract oil in Turkana or coal in the Mui Basin, it has to be after an agreement has been reached properly on how those resources will be extracted and shared, so that we do not have a situation ten or 50 years down the line, where people will say that they were cheated, their resources have been taken away and they want to fight because of those resources. We can do away with conflicts in Africa if we agree to respect institutions, follow the Constitution and respect one another. That is what we are asking between ourselves and the National Assembly, so that at least everybody knows where they are supposed to be. The county that I represent – Murang’a – also is the custodian of Ndakaini Dam. Ndakaini Dam supplies 75 per cent of the water that comes to Nairobi. Therefore, I can also say that 70 per cent of the industries in Nairobi rely on water from Murang’a County, and Nairobi produces 60 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this nation. So, what is the role of a county like Murang’a? I can talk about other counties where there are natural resources that benefit more people. We are not claiming that Ndakaini Dam should not only serve Murang’a but it is important to realize that the people who take care of the trees in the Aberdares and make it possible to have Maragua River or Thika River feed Ndakaini Dam have an interest in that water that then feeds Nairobi and enables her to produce 60 per cent of the GDP. Are The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}