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{
    "id": 840477,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/840477/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 340,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Murkomen",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 440,
        "legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
        "slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill was enacted to answer to the challenges that Kenya as a country is facing as a result of discovery of oil in Turkana. It is now public knowledge to all of us that we have oil in Lokichar area in Ngamia 1. It is not just that we discovered oil but it is of commercial value and that Kenya is in the process of establishing how to export the important resource. It is also important for me to notify Members that it is not only Turkana where we have oil. Large deposits of oil have been found in Elgeyo-Marakwet County. This is the right forum for us to have this discussion about the importance of petroleum law. I would like to request Hon. Members, even as they make their contributions, to prepare themselves to give suggestions on how we can better this law. Yesterday, it was Turkana, today is Elgeyo-Marakwet, tomorrow it could be Lamu and next day Homa Bay. The rest of the country will benefit from this Bill. Thirdly, many of us have contributed earlier in regard to the Petition that came from Nandi which we discussed. It is about the fear that natural resources are a curse and that in countries that have natural resources, it has led to conflict in the areas. We know the story of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is a big country. It is almost a quarter the Continent of Africa and they have challenges in so far as resources are concerned. However, we also know of other countries that have positive examples. We have countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that have used their natural resources very well to develop the country and diversify. Although we say that they do not have democracy like we do, they have leaders that have a foresight who know that natural resources are short-terms. For that matter, they have diversified. That is why most of us know about Emirates Airline. Many people who know about emirates do not know about oil. Instead, they know about Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They know that Dubai is a well-built city. They know about Emirates Airline because they are aware of the well-established transport in that great country. By way of introduction, I just want to add that in about 2014/2015, I had an opportunity of escorting the former President of Nigeria, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, who happens to come from the Delta region where there is a lot of oil. He told me one important thing, that as a country, we must think about the legal framework before we start selling or exporting oil. So, a legal framework is important because it can be a source of conflict. You saw what happened in Turkana the other day. I had an occasion to attend some of the negotiations regarding this Bill about sharing of the revenue, the benefits that should go to the county and what should go to the local community and establishment of a Trust Fund for the local community and it is extremely emotive issue. That is why as a nation, we must take this Bill extremely serious. Part 1 of this Bill is about exploration, development and production of petroleum. So, it covers exploration, development and production but also transport upstream to downstream of petroleum. This Bill has been prepared through extensive public consultation. 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."
}