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{
    "id": 661877,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/661877/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 260,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "initially given a license, they used to forget what they were licensed for and went ahead to use the same license in exploring other minerals which were not part of the licensing conditions. For example, if someone has been given a license to explore gas in Isiolo County, it should be limited to only gas and not any other resource. The aspect of mediation is very important in that, if one House disagrees with the other in terms of how approval is done, consensus needs to be reached so that the approval is granted. The relationship between the community and the licensee is very critical in legislation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, second is with regard to the relationship between the community and the person who is given a licence. It is very critical to come up with the legislation and the procedures that will be used. This is because over the years, explorers are given licences and they go to counties to harass communities. If an explorer is coming to a county, there must be mutual relationship between him as an investor and the community. If that is not taken care of, it will affect our communities. We have seen instances where communities are not informed or involved in what investors are coming to do. When they are asked, they harass the community. This has to be considered in the agreement and the licence. The other aspect is the benefit. Over the years, policies and legislationsdid not consider what benefits communities were to get from this particular licence. I think this particular time this legislation will go a long way in ensuring that local communities are involved at the initial stage in what they will benefit from this particular process. This is very critical because Kenyans will be able to protect their interests once this process in initiated. The other aspect is capacity building of the communities. This is because communities must be involved from the word go, that this particular investor is coming to do a, b, c and d, and this is what you will benefit. If this is not done, it will be a violation of the rights of the citizens. This has to come out very clearly in this particular Bill. My final point is the period of exploitation which should be limited in the sense that if I am given a licence, it should be for five or ten years and not forever. There are some explorers who go to some counties to explore, harass communities and keep on exploring and end up exploiting everything. We need to factor those aspects into the agreement as well as the procedures that will be put in place. This is a very important document. Currently in my county, there is a big problem where the Governor is leasing the park to foreign investors.The local communities are not involved and it has brought a lot of debate in terms of how this is done without consulting the communities. I think this will go a long way in curbing such issues. It is very important that this is fast-tracked so that governors are stopped from doing things the way they feel, as though it is their own property.This will help communities to benefit from their natural resources."
}