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"content": "Government. If you saw the areas that were highlighted by Sen. Keter, about the Government having a 10 per cent share in large mining, we now have institutional framework on how to invest in those areas and how the Government can hold shares in companies that are listed not just in the Kenyan Stock Exchange but also London, New York and Singapore Stock Exchange. Therefore, we have an institutional framework that ensures that revenue that is going to be received is properly managed and utilized. They invest on behalf of the national Government and acquire agreements for exploration and protection of mines. There is also a very critical institution. Apart from the National Mining Corporation, you also have a very critical institution called the Mineral Rights Board, which is in Clause 40. This body is very useful and its composition includes the Chairperson of the National Lands Commission (NLC) and the Director of Mines. The body is inter-Ministerial and inter-Governmental and even the Director of Geological Surveys and the Director of Mines sit there. This ensures that you bring together all these actors and players in matters of mining in a board that will ensure that the board will not be doing business. This board is basically a regulatory board which deals with grants, rejection, retention, renewal, suspension, revocation, variation, assignment, trading, tendering or transfer of mineral rights agreements. It deals with areas to allow suitable small scale and artisan mining. I really look forward to the formation of this corporation so that my people in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Embobut specifically can start applying for licences to continue exploring. But also at the same time, if you have seen how mineral exploration and mining is done, particularly for gold, if you walk along the beautiful River Embobut or River Aro’rr, you will find that it has a lot of holes which can be hazardous to people who are operating along that river, to animals which are going to drink water there and it can also be destructive and waste the water that is supposed to be used downstream. So, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is important that there is such an institution so that we have regulations and licenses granted; this will also ensure that there are certain conditions which are given to the small scale and artisanal miners so that, then, the national Government can earn revenue from them. At the moment, the greatest benefit from these people is that although they get a little bit of money here, with one person getting Kshs5,000 or Kshs10,000 in two or three months in the high seasons; mining in my area comes in seasons. Therefore, it is important that a little bit of it is given to the State so that it can serve our country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this law is very useful because it categorizes mineral rights. There are licences which are provided for large scale operations, for the small scale operations; you have reconnaissance licence, prospective licence, retention licence and mining licence. We also have prospecting permits for small scale holders and mining permits. This is good because we do not want every Tom, Dick and Harry just accessing our resources without proper licensing and conditions that are required. This law, therefore, provides the manner in which to deal with all these issues. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you look at this law, it is very scanty in terms of compensating local communities where the minerals are received. This law is not outlining exactly what benefits are going to accrue to the local community, which is 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."
}