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{
    "id": 664653,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/664653/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 281,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Bill is very exciting. As a Member of the Committee on Energy, I am happy to note that we appreciate the efforts that the Government has put to ensure that we have a legal framework that deals with matters of petroleum, particularly exploration, development and production. This Bill is critical for the reasons that have been properly presented by Sen. Kiraitu. First of all, petroleum, oil exploration and gas are of great concern for Africa and the world. The black gold, as they call it, is a very important resource in so far as the development of a country is concerned. Energy is critical and that is why we have countries that are called ‘petroleum producing countries.’ This Bill is also important in terms of ensuring the protection of the social fabric of a country. I had the opportunity of escorting the former President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan, on more than three occasions when he was in office. We had critical discussions about matters relating to petroleum. He told me something profound; that if a country wants to develop and produce oil, it must deal with the underlying issues. He told me that one of the most critical underlying issues is the importance of protecting the local community and environment. We remember the fights in Nigeria and the death of Ken Saro Wiwa. His articles, books and poems were about the oppression of minority people in Delta Region, which is the oil producing region of Nigeria. The fights that are going on in Nigeria are about the problems that we have in the region. We look at the benefits that come with the oil to the rich people and the State. Sometimes, the benefits do not go to the State, but a few hands of connected people. Today I was speaking to PhD students at St Paul’s University. One of the students who come from Angola was sharing with us the challenges of Angola being the top oil producing country in Africa. The resource that comes from oil production is within the family of the President. To start with, the President is the Head of State, his son the Minister for Energy and the daughter is in charge of foreign reserve that deals with money that comes from the oil. That is why it is important for us to explore the oil, having passed the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It makes it mandatory - as has been replicated in this Bill - that oil agreements are to be signed and approved by Parliament. The Cabinet Secretary will not have unfettered powers to deal with matters relating to agreements of oil exploration and energy related issues. They need the approval of Parliament, which is critical. What is also critical in this Bill is the fact that the resources that come from oil and petroleum production will be transparently applied to the benefits of the country. The profits and the agreements that will deal with the sharing of profits between the producers and the Government will be open. Many countries in Africa cannot tell how much they get from the oil production because the producers are colluding with a few people in 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"
}