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{
    "id": 61798,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/61798/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 381,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Kaloki",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 62,
        "legal_name": "Philip Kyalo Kaloki",
        "slug": "philip-kaloki"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the law will advocate for the involvement of the legal communities in tourism matters in order to spread tourism benefits through their active involvement. This will help and assist the communities living close to those tourism attractive areas. At the moment, it is only in Maasai Mara where the communities seem to benefit. If you look at Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Samburu, you will find that the communities which live close to those parks do not benefit. This Bill will address such areas and link them up. Initially, the law did not address such anomalies. Also, this Bill will be able to provide for resource mobilization to support tourism sector activities through the proposed Tourism Fund and the Tourism Finance Corporation. It also outlines the necessary physical incentives to encourage investment in the sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are some clauses where the Minister has done great work. Mr. Balala has really provided the right leadership in this particular Ministry. I must thank him for that. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Clauses 4 to 16 talk about the proposed Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA). The membership proposed is 11 members; including the chairman, the Permanent Secretary and others. We are requesting that the process of vetting be put in place. The members of the Board should be vetted. Of the six board members to be appointed by the Minister, only two will come from the tourism sector umbrella association, while four will be appointed purely at the discretion of the Minister. In other words, the Minister will come up with four members while the umbrella association is required to produce only two. We recommend that the association be allowed to appoint four members. That way, the association will benefit from the input from experts in that sector. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, under clauses 17 to 27, we are requesting for the vetting of the Board members of the Kenya Utalii College. By doing so, we will have more transparency, openness and the public can participate in this matter. Clauses 28 to 38 proposes that the Tourism Protection Service (TPS) Board will have 12 members. We need these members to be vetted. We also want to point out clauses 39 to 49 which talk about the vetting of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) members. We propose that a mechanism of vetting those members to be put in place. On clauses 50 to 60 on the Kenyatta International Conference and Convention Centre Board of 11 members, we are proposing to increase the number of experts from two to four. They should also be vetted to increase awareness and transparency. The experts should lobby and get those particular positions through a fair and transparent manner. Clauses 85 to 96 talk about the Tourism Finance Corporation. There is no process of vetting. We are asking for a mechanism to be put in place, so that Kenyans can feel there is a chance for them to apply and get these positions. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must also commend the Minister for making tourism an area with a system of appeals by the people. That is provided for under clauses 97 to 107. In conclusion, the tourism laws are necessary for all the countries with vast interest in the sector as a means of foreign exchange earnings. The laws ensure and encourage the development of the tourism sector. So, the consolidation of tourism related issues in the Bill is a welcome move. However, cross cutting issues such as finance and security legalities need to be agreeable to those other sectors before approval by Parliament. I beg to support."
}