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{
    "id": 513638,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/513638/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 288,
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    "content": "Sen. (Dr.) Zani, the Chairperson of the ad hoc Committee on Legislation on Royalties accruing from Natural Resources. In our visits to the counties, one of them being Machakos, we found that the county and the people have been exploited to the maximum. When we went round we found that stones have been extracted and the environment has actually been destroyed. We found very big pits which when it rains, I am sure, that water fills up to the brim and mosquitoes will breed there, thus affecting the health of the people living in Machakos. They suffer from malaria and many other water borne diseases. We also found that the rivers have dried up. The sand which is excavated from them is no longer there. So, actually we found people standing by the dry rivers wondering what to do because the only means of survival is through sand harvesting and selling it to exploiters from Nairobi. Machakos County has built the sky scrapers in Nairobi, yet the people of Machakos County have been deprived of the royalties accruing from the natural resource. This Bill is very important because it will protect the lives of the people in the counties. In our trip, we also went to other counties in Kenya for the purpose of public hearings. We interviewed Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and members of the public. Most of the people raised concerns about the way their counties are being exploited. We also went as far as Australia, where we visited the Super Pit, which is one of the largest mines in Australia. The good thing we saw about the Australian legislation is the recognition of Australian Aborigines. These people are catered for by the exploiters. The good thing we saw about the Australian Legislation is that they save some on a monthly basis to sustain themselves. As we know from the history of the Australia, Aborigines come a long way. Most of them are not educated. Therefore, they cannot compete for white colour jobs the same way as the white people. County governments as well as residents of areas with mineral deposits have been complaining about being left out in revenue sharing. The Bill seeks to ensure that communities which produce the resources benefit directly to reduce conflict and tackle poverty. In Narok, for example, we have had a scuffle between the local communities, the exploiters and the local government. This is because we do not have a piece of legislation to guide those who exploit the resources on how much money should go to the community, how much should go to the local government and how much they should retain. Poverty is a crisis. Local communities directly benefiting from royalties will be a sure way of getting closer to Vision 2030 and meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. Why do I say so? In Turkana, for example, oil has been discovered. We have Tullow Company which is carrying out the exploitation of the oil. The good thing about Tullow is that the company is giving out scholarships to our people. However, it is my view that they should do more by uplifting the standards of Turkana county. Turkana people have suffered for many years. Growing or even getting food in Turkana is a problem. I expect the Tullow company, if they are watching, to start something like food stores to cater for the people of Turkana. In Turkana, you cannot grow maize. The soil there is sandy and the terrain quite rocky. 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."
}