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{
    "id": 890587,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/890587/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 389,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "of revenue sharing once we have those things. There are also issues of royalties and how to oversee the administration of the funds. That is why it is important that everybody knows what is in that kitty. What has not been said is who audits these funds at the end of the day. How do we get to know that this is really what went to the fund at the end of the day? This is a critical issue that we need to put on board when this Bill is finally at the Committee stage. Those are the areas that the Mover of this Bill should look at. The collection of royalties and fees is a function of the national Government and we need to see what should happen. I am happy that we are talking about percentages here; but you know that percentages can be very deceptive. You can be told that what we got out of this resource is 20,000 British Pounds when, in effect, they got two billion British Pounds. Who is going to do the assessment of those resources? We should incorporate experts’ report to quantify and also qualify the quantities and qualities of those resources. This is very critical. Otherwise, we will be taken for a ride. We will be told: “You see; why are you worried? After all, the communities are getting 40 per cent of the revenue sharing.” Yet, that is based on a value that is unknown to the communities. Somewhere in this Bill, there should be a concept on how these quantities are sorted out; how the value is marked for these quantities and for how many years of exploitation. The elasticity of the exploitation of these resources should also be measured so that you know when they do their annual programmes, the other things will be included in this. There is always confusion when you see some entrepreneurs or investors who come and say: “We have a Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) programme; we are going to put a hospital there, a road here and another thing there.” That is their responsibility coming out of their profits and it should never be confused with revenue sharing with communities. That should be a separate entity altogether. The CSR should be a responsibility because they have an opportunity to exploit a resource in that area. They are, therefore, obligated. It is a gentlemanly way of saying, “Thank you for allowing me to exploit this resource.” Therefore, it is my responsibility to this community to see to it that I deal with certain deficits in that community. It is critical that we appreciate this point that is being captured here. Please, Sen (Dr.) Zani, at the end of the story, we want to know how to quantify this resource. How do we put a value and a tag on these resources? That way, this sharing of revenue has a deeper meaning, because then we know that our people will richly be able to receive these resources in adequate amounts and that will help us to do the right thing. Quickly on Clause 10(2c), which states that five persons should be elected by the local community where the resource is found, representing the diversity of the local community. I did not follow you well here. Is this where the Chairperson is going to come from, on that community sharing responsibility? If that is the case, then I support that process. If it is not the case, that the Chairperson will come from elsewhere, then that will create some difficulties. This is because we want to increase the confidence of the local community, that this is a real tangible resource that they are going to share. Therefore, they will know what is happening in that region. As I said earlier, it is an important observation."
}