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{
    "id": 513633,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/513633/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 283,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungai",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 890,
        "legal_name": "James Kiarie Mungai",
        "slug": "james-kiarie-mungai"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Bill by Sen. (Dr.) Zani. We know that Kenya is endowed with enormous resources. Over time, communities have been complaining about the benefits that have been accruing from the natural resources that are within their areas. The fact that devolution is with us, this particular Bill would not have come at a better time. The Senate is living to its expectations and that of the people. This is a House that will apparently address the challenges that are being faced by our various counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when we look at the various natural resources that are based in different counties, we see a situation where we have the Masinga Dam, like what Sen. Muthama said; it is there. It was developed quite sometimes back and its impact to the people of Machakos is quite minimal. When you come to my county, Nakuru, we have national parks and masses of water like Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita and Lake Nakuru. Some of the things that are happening on the ground touching on some of these natural resources are shocking. It is important that I state here that when we come to a water mass like Lake Naivasha, close to almost 60 per cent or 65 per cent of the local population have never been to the lake. Leave alone the fact that we are talking about money that is accruing from the natural resource itself, but access to the natural resource has not been easy. It has been prohibited by individuals who have blocked the corridors that are supposed to lead to that natural resource. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is important that even when we talk about a dam like Masinga and others which are supposed to have fish because the authority which is generating hydroelectric power from there is supposed to ensure that, that water does not just go to waste. They are supposed to introduce fish and anything else that is supposed to be put into that water. However, for the local community to access that dam – just like for the people of Naivasha to access their lake – is a problem. The people of Naivasha have tried very hard to have the corridors opened. It is a big problem. Right now, cattle belonging to the Maasai Community, because of the dry spell, cannot access the fresh water that is in the lake because of blockage of those corridors. So, as we discuss Sen. (Dr.) Zani’s Bill, it is important that we also go very deep into knowing the system that will be followed. If I am to give my county as an example, the royalties that will be coming from the various natural resources within the county do not go to the county and fail to help and assist the communities that are within those natural resources. 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."
}