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{
    "id": 513643,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/513643/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 293,
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    "content": "well how the communities, counties and the national Government will benefit from this Bill. For a very long time, this country has gone through painful experiences in terms of conflicts that arise from the resources that are found in our counties. This is the best solution. We have had cases where the Government is compelled to allocate huge amounts of money to our security to ensure that people live peacefully and coexist harmoniously with each other because of the resources. The communities feel that the national Government is denying them access to the natural resources within their counties. It is high time we tried to do our best in making sure that this Bill passes through. Once it becomes an Act, it will reduce the conflicts that we have been witnessing each and every day in our counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, under devolution, one of the things we will celebrate in this Senate is if we pass this Bill. This is because for the first time, our county governments will benefit from the resources within their counties unlike the previous regime before the enactment of the new Constitution when there were many challenges. At the moment, the Constitution has given us power. Through this Bill, our counties will record development accrued from the resources that are found in the specific counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, a number of companies that come to do mining in the specific counties have always declined to participate in CSRs whereas this is the only way that the county governments can benefit from them. Formerly, companies that were mining or doing oil exploration in the counties could not give back to society. Even if they do not give back to society through CSR, the community will get their share through the ratios that the resources will be shared as per the formula in this Bill. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, now that this Bill has its origin from the Senate and it has had its input by Senators, what will be the role of the Senate when this Bill becomes law? The Constitution is very clear in Article 96 (1). It states:- “The Senate represents the counties and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments.” Among the interests that are in the counties are the natural resources and how our counties will benefit from them. The Senate should play the oversight role once this law becomes operational to see to it that all these things as stipulated in the Bill take place. We do not want to originate a good Bill like this and then tomorrow, it does not serve the intended purpose then our people will think that we did not do our job. As a Member of the Senate and a representative of Uashin Gishu County, we welcome this Bill and we want to thank Sen. (Dr.) Zani for coming up with it. We want to see the challenges that have been there being dealt it once this Bill becomes law. We should lobby all the Members to support it because this is one of our products as the Senate and we want to ensure that it succeeds. With those few remarks, I support."
}