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{
    "id": 513596,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/513596/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 246,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Anyang’-Nyong’o",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 193,
        "legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
        "slug": "peter-nyongo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I was on the Floor contributing to this very important Bill when the Senate rose to adjourn on the 12th March, 2015. The point I was making was, first of all, to thank my Chairperson, Sen. (Dr.) Zani, for chairing this ad hoc Committee, to which I belonged, very ably. The second point I was making then, just to refresh our memories, is the issue of legislation of royalties accruing from natural resources. It is an issue whose time has come because of the recent bonanza in the discovery of various minerals in this nation. While that is going on, we should not forget that this nation is endowed with other natural resources which have been major contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and which should be factored in as we talk about royalties. Except for the Mara and Narok areas, other game reserves have been run from the centre and the interests of the communities which live in those areas have not been taken into account. Along with that is the issue of conservancies. There are many conservancies in this nation, all across the Rift Valley but also in northern Kenya. While indeed, those who have initiated and owned these conservancies have done a job to be appreciated, one should not forget that there were and there are still communities living in or out of these conservancies whose interest in terms of the benefits accruing from these conservancies should be taken into account. These interests should not just be addressed in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). That kind of serving of interest is quite often dependent upon the conservancy itself or may not be done regularly, but it is important that the benefits be rooted in law. Our Constitution points out that public and community interest is extremely important in drawing benefit from natural resources. Our most important natural resource is our environment as a whole and part of it is to do with our flora and fauna and, indeed, the natural features in this environment; the hills, valleys and so on, and so forth. Quite often, tourists come to this nation to enjoy natural resources wherever they are; even in areas which are not demarcated as official tourist areas. However, as we move on to establish devolution, many counties are becoming aware that there are potential tourist sites. I know that there is no county in Kenya in whose policy document you will not find an element of tourism. If, indeed, the element of tourism is not there, there are policies waiting to be implemented or waiting to be recognized as important. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me refer you to Article 69 of our Constitution. This article falls under Part 2 on Environment and Natural Resources. Article 69 comes under the subheading; Obligations in respect of the environment and reads in part:- “69. (1) The State shall- 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."
}