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{
    "id": 596044,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/596044/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 73,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Emanikor",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1092,
        "legal_name": "Joyce Akai Emanikor",
        "slug": "joyce-akai-emanikor"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to support the Petroleum Bill. This Bill is very important for many reasons, given the fact that Kenya has joined the league of oil producing countries. We are endowed with oil, gas and other natural resources and also, given the fact that the dynamics of the oil sector in Kenya is changing, it is quite timely that the Bill comes. I want to concentrate on Article 117 which talks about the community rights. This Bill gives the community the right to be informed. As we all know, the oil sector in Kenya is shrouded with a lot of discreetness and secrecy. That is why we have had problems with the areas where the oil investors are working, like in Turkana. We have always heard of demonstrations, protests, suspension of operations, Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) and communities have grievances over things like employment, contracts, lack of inclusion and revenue sharing. This Bill has taken into account the need for the communities to be given their rights. One of them is the ability to make inquiries through a mechanism that goes down to the lowest levels; ward level, sub-county level and all the levels where those operations are taking place. The communities have a right to interrogate the planned activities and how those activities will interact with the environment, ecosystem and livelihoods of the people. The other thing is the right of the communities to be compensated for different things. One of them is land. There are issues around land, environmental damage, injury or sickness within those areas which are related to operations of oil and gas prospecting. There are issues about compensation for property loss and other things that the communities think they should be compensated for. The other right that this Bill brings is the right of communities to be educated and sensitized on the operations and the right to participate in planning. They should not be excluded in planning. The other clauses that I find to be very important in this Bill are Clauses 86 to 99 on environmental concerns. There have been issues. I want to single out Tullow which is working in Turkana. I am sure the same issues could be applicable to other investors in this sector who are working in other parts of Kenya. We have had issues of sewage effluent, disposal of hazardous material, air pollution and occupational hazards. This Bill takes care of all the environmental concerns that we have had. Through this Bill, we are now able to give notice to those investors to ensure that they take measures to secure the safety and health of the staff and the local people around where those operations are taking place. They should be able to control the flows and spillages of oil and other hazardous material. They should prevent pollution of air, soil, water resources and other resources within the areas of operation. They should also be able to prevent flaring and venting of oil and gas. This has been an issue in areas around Ngamia 1, where communities have reported seeing dark smoke in the air meaning the flaring is not done in the correct manner. This affects the health of the people living around those areas. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}