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{
"id": 1406181,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406181/?format=api",
"text_counter": 107,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Laughter)"
},
{
"id": 1406182,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406182/?format=api",
"text_counter": 108,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
"speaker": null,
"content": " He is eager to do what he does best. This is a very important Motion. As the proposer and seconder have said, it offers Kenya a good opportunity to continue accessing the EU market. Since 2014/2016, we have been able to access the duty and quota-free status of the EU market without the requisite legal statutes which we are now getting with the signing of this EPA with Kenya, which is a member of EAC. As you may remember, since 2016, there has been a struggle between us and our partner states in the East African Community when we attempted to convince all the EAC countries to sign the EPA by October 2016. There were reservations by a number of our partner states which culminated in Kenya negotiating to sign a separate agreement with the EU as part of the broader EAC partner states. This agreement was signed last year in December and its ratification by this House will offer us a great opportunity to continue accessing the EU market for most of our exports. Most of our exports, both manufactured and raw materials like tea and coffee, now have access to the EU markets duty-free. We will be able to access EU partner states and EU nations that are part of the EU EPA quota-free and duty-free. This gives our manufacturing sector good footing. Under the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, we committed to import and export substitution to ensure that we can export as many products and substitute locally what we have imported from different countries. This includes many products that were being imported from China and other countries. With this kind of agreement, we will grow our manufacturing sector to a point where we are able to export manufactured products to the European economies. This reinforces what the Government has been trying to do to ensure we have larger foreign exchange reserves. By exporting more to the EU, we will earn more Euros, Pounds and other foreign currencies which will further strengthen the Kenya Shilling. Many people argue that there are no fundamentals that are supporting the strengthening of the Kenya Shilling against the Dollar. The fundamentals that people are looking for are agreements and ratification of agreements like this which will allow Kenyan manufacturers and farmers to access the EU market. This will encourage foreign exchange, further strengthening the Kenya Shilling. I assure Kenyans that with the ratification of this agreement, our foreign reserves will become stronger and the shilling will continue to gain against the other world hard currencies. This also assures Kenyans that they have a market for locally produced goods. That assurance of a market guarantees jobs to Kenyans, especially the youth. When we say that we shall be deliberate in ensuring that we create jobs, it is not just in terms of housing and other infrastructure projects, it is even in the ratification of such agreements that will ensure our manufacturing sector grows and creates more jobs for our youth. Therefore, I support this Motion and urge Members to support the ratification of this Economic Partnership Agreement. It is a very good opportunity for Kenyan traders and manufacturers to access the European Union partner-states markets. I know there are many people who are struggling to access markets around the world, but they could not access them because of the protective duties that have been put in place by other states on goods coming 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": 1406183,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406183/?format=api",
"text_counter": 109,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
"speaker": null,
"content": "from other countries. This duty-free access to the EU markets is a great opportunity for our country and we must take advantage of it. I also take this opportunity to welcome the delegation from BATUK and commend them for the good work that they have been doing and the partnership that they have offered the Kenyan military in training and collaboration in securing not just this region and our country, but also in the fight against terrorism in the region and the world at large. I welcome this delegation from the British Army to the National Assembly. As the Leader of the Majority Party, I take this opportunity to assure them that we shall continue to partner with the British Army. We appreciate the support that they have also offered to the people of Laikipia and encourage them to ensure that they offer more Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects to the people of Laikipia where they are training from as part of the CSR activities in the region."
},
{
"id": 1406184,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406184/?format=api",
"text_counter": 110,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Leader of the Minority Party."
},
{
"id": 1406185,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406185/?format=api",
"text_counter": 111,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ugunja, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Opiyo Wandayi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Speaker, let me join my colleagues in supporting this Motion. This is the way forward. Regions the world over are consolidating their markets for competitiveness. Therefore, we can no longer just sit back and say that it is enough for us to stay alone and protect our market. This protectionist ideology is no longer useful. By ratifying the EPA between the EU and Kenya, we are positioning Kenya to be able to access a huge market. As you all know, the EU is a very big market. How difficult would it be to negotiate and engage every member state of the EU? The concept of countries coming together to form blocs and unions is very timely and important. If we properly utilise and take advantage of this partnership agreement, it will help enhance our exports. There are many areas in this country that are yet to be harnessed, especially in the rural areas. I come from the fishing community and our fish resources have not been beneficial to us. They have also not been beneficial to the communities living in the coast region because we have not had a proper marketing channel. Entering into this Agreement is one way of ensuring that we have adequate market not only for fish, but for many other products, both raw and manufactured. We should insist that we only export materials that we have added value to for us to reap the maximum benefit. Our manufacturers are also likely to benefit immensely. It is not easy to penetrate some of these markets. You have seen how we have struggled as a country since we got our Independence to gain a foothold in international markets for most of our products. Therefore, this is a move worth supporting. However, the lethargy we see within the East African Community is not doing us any good. The EAC needs to be more proactive and understand that the world is changing very fast. I still see a lot of suspicions within, between or among the member states of the EAC. If we can work towards eradicating these suspicions, maybe, in the fullness of time, within our lifetime, we could actually see a political federation emerging within the EAC. That will go a long way in strengthening our bloc as a market. In conclusion, Parliament is being called upon to do what should happen at all times. These kinds of agreements need to be interrogated by the relevant committees in the manner in which we have done for this one so that as we move forward, the Parliament of Kenya, which is the people's representative and the voice of the people, is fully seized of these very vital arrangements. With those very many remarks, I wish to support the Motion. I also join my colleague, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, in welcoming the BATUK delegation. I know we took some time last year to endorse the Defence Agreement between Kenya and Britain. I hope that that Agreement has been operationalised because there were some issues, which I hope we have dealt with."
},
{
"id": 1406186,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406186/?format=api",
"text_counter": 112,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Ruku, do you want to contribute to this Motion?"
},
{
"id": 1406187,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406187/?format=api",
"text_counter": 113,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mbeere North, DP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Ruku GK",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Yes. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. The EU market is very critical not only for Africa, but also for the world. Germany is almost the second largest 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": 1406188,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406188/?format=api",
"text_counter": 114,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mbeere North, DP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Ruku GK",
"speaker": null,
"content": "economy in the world, which has not been fully exploited by African countries. Kenya must lead the African continent in exploiting most of the very complex EU economies, so that we can have well-balanced trade in terms of the goods and services we export to these economies. This Report is timely when the Government of the Republic of Kenya is trying to create job opportunities, not only for the youth, but also services which can be exported to these European economies. Therefore, it is very timely for us as a House to support this Agreement so that we can see a GDP growth from 5.5 per cent to 7 per cent. By the time we get to the next election, we can be talking of an almost double-digit growth of the economy. This can only be achieved if we have concerted efforts to export our horticultural commodities. We are enjoying a high amount of rainfall at the moment. We also have a very robust fertiliser subsidy programme, though it has some shaky issues which I am sure this House will sort out. However, there is the effort to ensure that horticultural production will increase. Once that happens, we must have a market in place to export our products. With those remarks, I support this important and timely Motion on Ratification of the Kenya-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1406189,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406189/?format=api",
"text_counter": 115,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe."
},
{
"id": 1406190,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1406190/?format=api",
"text_counter": 116,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Navakholo, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Allow me to join my colleagues in supporting this Economic Partnership Agreement. The vastness of the European market is one desire that every business person wants to associate with. Accessing European market is not only an issue of marketing but also of adhering to standards. One of the world’s best standards that one can ever admire are the ones for Europeans. Therefore, one benefit that comes with this Agreement is not only marketing what you have but also understanding the global standards and adhering to them. We would like to look at the generation of Kenya today which is mainly the youth. We must endear and support the youth in manufacturing. This Motion will help us to get market for our goods. Africa is endowed with raw materials. The only thing we do not have is technology and standards which we can abide by. Therefore, I appreciate most sincerely that this Report is good. It will make our country to align itself with the global market. What we will produce might not only be for the European market or Africa but also the entire world. Therefore, I support the Report. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}
]
}