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{
"id": 1522942,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522942/?format=api",
"text_counter": 386,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Marsabit County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Naomi Waqo",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We need to add that all the areas that process gold can be represented so that their interest can be well protected. Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the last many years, many Kenyans who are involved in gold mining and processing have suffered in the hands of cartels. This is simply because there are those rich people who are somewhere and the miners are on the ground. They try very much to dig the gold, harvest it and sell it at a very cheap price. There are middlemen who collect the entire gold and sell it at a higher price. Once we pass this Bill, their interests will be protected. They will earn from their hard work. The counties will also not be left behind. I am sure some percentages, 10 to 15 per cent, will be given to the local community around there so that they can benefit. This Bill needs to be fast-tracked and assented to by the President so that Kenyans can benefit. We know that in areas where gold has been discovered, many people and countries have grown rich due to its mining and sale. Unfortunately, in Kenya we have not put in place rules, regulations or laws to guide us and that is why we need to do this. We need to debate and finalise the Bill so that people can be given licenses to start their own corporations and benefit from gold mining. The passage of this Bill will also ensure that miners no longer suffer. Currently, they suffer because they mine using their hands and explore mines in unsafe conditions. This often leads to loss of lives because those areas are not protected. They do not know what to do but continue with the hope that once they harvest enough gold, they will transform their lives. With those few remarks, I support this Bill. It is my prayer that the lives of many Kenyans will be transformed through this. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1522943,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522943/?format=api",
"text_counter": 387,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " Hon. Geoffrey Mulanya Wakili."
},
{
"id": 1522944,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522944/?format=api",
"text_counter": 388,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nambale, Independent",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Geoffrey Mulanya",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Gold Processing Bill of 2023. When you mention the word ‘gold’, in the minds of many Kenyans, it sounds like the gateway to riches. In many parts with crude gold mining activities, there is a scramble that sometimes leads to death. It is important that this Bill was brought by Hon. Shinali, a Member representing a constituency that is a gold mine. We thank you for bringing it because you have more experience in what has happened in your constituency. Recently, we almost lost the lives of good Kenyans in those gold mines. As it was said by Hon. Nyikal, who is a health expert, the underlying issues often go unnoticed. In most incidences, we talk about miners being trapped underground, but people forget to talk about the health hazards associated with crude gold mining. It is a legal requirement that anyone on a construction site must put on protective gear. However, without regulations, crude gold miners go underground without any protection whatsoever. As much as they come out of the gold mines alive, they often pick up some chronic diseases that affect them, and they slowly die in their homes. In the Western region, we have observed areas where prospective or crude gold mining is being undertaken. In particular, Hon. Oyula has mentioned that in an area called Bumutiru in Butula Constituency, Busia, that neighbours Nambale Constituency, crude gold mining is taking place. We find that many people abandon their farm work and families for prospective gold mining, only to come back empty-handed. They waste valuable time that could have been spent working on their farms to support their families. They come back with something that cannot even support or feed their families for a week. If that time had been put to proper use by working on their farms, it might have been more meaningful. For that reason, I support the proposal to have the Gold Mining Corporation so that it can bring order to this sector. Let us have a proper geological study to confirm that the prospects of gold is worth the mining. There The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1522945,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522945/?format=api",
"text_counter": 389,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nambale, Independent",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Geoffrey Mulanya",
"speaker": null,
"content": "should also be regulations that any person who undertakes this mining must follow the safety precautions required for any construction site. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we also know that our Government is losing revenue. This is a hard time that we do not have enough revenue in this country. Even at NG-CDF, we do not have money because of the hard economic times. When we have resources like gold that are being smuggled, the Government does not benefit. The local government is also not benefiting. The land is being degraded because when they dig tunnels underground, the soil becomes weaker and the soil topography is interfered with. There are too many things that are lined up that we need to control. As a House, this is the most important time to have this in control because where there is no regulation, there is disorder. Indeed, there is a lot of disorder in gold mining in this country leading to death and poverty, which we as legislators, are under duty to control. I thank Hon. Shinali and the Committee for bringing this Bill. I support it."
},
{
"id": 1522946,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522946/?format=api",
"text_counter": 390,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " Hon. Peter Francis Masara, do you want to speak to this?"
},
{
"id": 1522947,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522947/?format=api",
"text_counter": 391,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Suna West, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Masara",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Yes. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Of course, you know my name is Masara, and Masara area has a lot of gold. That is the reason I have to add my voice to what has been said by other Members. This Bill is very important. This Bill will enable artisan miners to get what is rightfully theirs. As we speak, the miners in that area are unregulated. There are too many cartels. Too many people purport to have licences yet they are doing unlawful things. We have Chinese, especially in Migori, Masara area, Osiri area, Kuria and Rongo, where gold is found. You will get too many cartels undermining the work of our people who are really suffering and working hard so that they can earn a living. Clause 42 of the Bill talks about an application for the renewal of processing license. It says an application shall contain the information or be accompanied by the following documents: 1. The proposed programme for processing operations to be carried out during the term of renewal. 2. A plan of the area in respect to which renewal of this processing license is sought. 3. An approved environmental impact assessment licence, social heritage assessment, and environmental management plan in respect of the applicant's proposal where required under this law. Hon. Temporary Speaker, currently, there is a school in my area called Arombe. People are mining within the school because that land belongs to somebody. There is no regulation. You get areas where people take natural water yet some are doing processing there. The chemicals used are affecting the community because there is no regulator. Once this Bill becomes an Act, I believe the people involved in mining are going to appreciate us as legislators. If you go to Clause 48(1)(d), I want to be very specific about the laboratories. In my area, the laboratory that is being used majorly by the people engaged in mining is in Tanzania. So, it means we are losing a lot of revenue to the Tanzanian Government because people leave Migori and take samples to Tanzania, and the people involved are not professionals. Some people have been engaged in mining for a long time and have gained experience. They come, check the land, say a few things, and then continue exploiting our people. The Bill proposes that the headquarters of the Gold Mining Corporation be in Nairobi, with additional offices at the county level. That means that those involved in mining, including artisan miners, will get an opportunity to interact with professionals from the Corporation. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1522948,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522948/?format=api",
"text_counter": 392,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Suna West, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Masara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "By and large, as you have mentioned, gold mining is happening in Kenya, but nobody knows the amount of revenue generated. Even transportation and standardisation of gold in Kenya today remains beyond our reach. With this Bill in place, many gaps will be filled. Therefore, without taking much time, I support the Bill and congratulate my colleague for bringing it to the august House."
},
{
"id": 1522949,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522949/?format=api",
"text_counter": 393,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " Hon. Florence Jematiah."
},
{
"id": 1522950,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522950/?format=api",
"text_counter": 394,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Baringo County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jematiah Sergon",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also want to add my voice to this Bill and congratulate my friend and colleague, Hon. Shinali, for such good work."
},
{
"id": 1522951,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522951/?format=api",
"text_counter": 395,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Baringo County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jematiah Sergon",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The Bill was introduced in 2023, therefore, it is a good time for us to review it. In addition to considering this Gold Processing Bill, we also need to consider other natural resources in the country. There are sporadic gold deposits in the area I come from, which have not been fully utilised and properly harnessed. We also have other minerals such as rubies, and small pockets of oil here and there because of the nature of our environment, which is a desert. However, gold is considered to signify wealth, depending on who discovered it first. Even as we consider this Bill, we should also consider other minerals, so that we come up with one Bill to protect all minerals in the country. We recently discovered cobalt in Meru and Embu in eastern Kenya. We need to do more to protect our minerals. If this Bill is passed, it will become an Act of Parliament which will work hand in hand with the Mining Act that is already in place. I urge the Committee to come up with a Bill for all our minerals for our safety and future. Growing up, we used to be told that sometimes it is not good to touch what God has given you and use it as a reservoir in the future. If you look at countries that have exploited their minerals, it has become a curse for them or has brought problems. In most cases, the mining does not benefit the people who do the actual work; it benefits the cartels and international companies that exploit people. The Bill will help us curb that problem."
}
]
}