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{
    "id": 616939,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/616939/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 256,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Murungi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2802,
        "legal_name": "Kathuri Murungi",
        "slug": "kathuri-murungi"
    },
    "content": "I am concerned that after this Parliament rejects any agreement or any concession, it is like the last resort. The transaction is declared null and void. The drafters of this Bill should also give a leeway where those guys can go, if Parliament disapproves their transaction or concession. Therefore, we may be unfair to those people coming here to do business. Any investor coming to invest US$500 million in a mineral business, for example, is a serious investor. When Parliament in one way or the other decides that this agreement cannot be approved, then it becomes a problem to those people. Therefore, those are the grey areas which when the Bill comes to the Third Reading, we should tooth-comb it and see the best thing to do. If the CS should not stay with this agreement for not more than seven days, when it comes to the Floor of the House, we should give ourselves a total of 60 days. Therefore, we should try to be fast in thrashing out this issue. If it provides 14 days between when the agreement is made and the CS is given seven days and this House takes 60 days to do this transaction--- know there are Bills which are rushed here. This is one of the Bills which should be rushed so that such a person, who could be trying to get loans from the international donors or banks, can complete the process. If those days can be reduced, then this law will be okay. In the Schedule, I am happy because all the protected areas or conservation areas where we have those natural resources such as wildlife and forests are marked in four key areas which need parliamentary approval. I am happy because this Bill is here today. I am aware that some acres will be hived off the Nairobi National Park so that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) can pass through it. I am happy because this House will determine whether it is important for that transaction to go ahead or change it - that is the route of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). This is because if we interfere with our national parks, we will be killing our heritage, which is helping the economy of this country, especially now that we are grappling with low number of tourists who are coming to Kenya. If they realize that we are doing away with our national parks, they will have no business visiting this country. I am aware that public participation is being carried out. Before that process is done with, this Bill will have been signed into law. As a House, we will be in a position to make a decision one way or the other. We could decide that the national park be left intact or we could decide that we give a lee-way for the SGR to pass through that route. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute."
}