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{
    "id": 682728,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/682728/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 547,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "provisions I do not want to go into. This Section is important in enhancing security of any aircraft flying within the airspace of Kenya. Clause 19 of the Bill proposes to amend the Act by inserting new Sections 46A and 46B immediately after Section 46. Section 46A is supposed to provide for the documents required to be carried on board. For an aircraft to fly over our airspace, the following documents must be available on board. They are certificate of registration, certificate of air worthiness, aviation personnel certificate of each of the flight crew members, journey logbook and aircraft radio licence. There are cases in Kenya where a trainee captain flies Members of Parliament from Nairobi to Mombasa. You will find cases where the aircraft logbook is not available because the aircraft is on loan and the logbook is held by a bank. The new Section 46B proposes to prohibit any pilot in command of an aircraft in Kenya from flying over areas designated by the Authority as prohibited, restricted or dangerous areas. Which are the prohibited areas? Hon. Gumbo, you need to listen to me. If you are going to Siaya, you make sure you tell the captain not to fly over State House, not only the State House in Nairobi, but also the State Lodges in Nakuru, Kisumu and other towns. This is whether the President is there or not. Secondly, you should not fly over military bases. If you fly over Moi Airbase, you can lose your licence. This is good information. We, the Members of Parliament fly a lot. You will not be the victim but that captain will. Clause 20 of the Bill proposes to amend the Act by repealing and replacing Section 49 to enable the Director-General to grant exemptions on special authorisation. I am sure a lot will be said by the able Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Public Works, Hon. Kamanda. I will just move briefly and finish. Clause 28 of the Bill proposes to amend Section 82(2)(d) of the Act to expand the list of persons to be regulated to include catering and security operators. Catering and security operators and cleaners who access the airport and more so, the restricted areas of the airport must be vetted. They must go through serious security checks. In 2012, I was coming from a Committee meeting in Mombasa and I left my wallet in the front pocket of where I was sitting. Before I left the airport, I realised my wallet was missing. When I came back, my wallet was not there because those who clean the aircraft decided to take it. The same characters can sneak in a bomb. All those who operate within the restricted airport areas must be screened. They also must go through security checks. That is what the Bill anticipates. I think I have said much. This Bill is very comprehensive. It is a very important Bill. It is a Bill that the former President Moi’s Government could not bring. The famous or infamous Grand Coalition Government could do nothing about it. Because this Government believes in a transformation agenda in all the sectors of our economy - we have to fix the airport, we have to build more runways, we have to build a modern airport and allow direct flights from Nairobi to Washington, D.C - Nairobi will become a hub like Dubai or Oliver Tambo International Airport. The ICAO and the FAA carried out an international audit on safety. They realised that the Government had done everything. What is required is to fill the gap that is missing in policy and legislation. That is what brought this Bill. If we pass this Bill and it is assented to by the President before the end of the year, we can assure the country that direct flights will be available between Kenya and the US and that the economic growth that will be achieved through the expansion in infrastructure at our airports will benefit the people of Kenya at all levels, from taxi drivers, shopkeepers, pilots to crew."
}