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{
    "id": 1089306,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1089306/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 206,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Halake",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13184,
        "legal_name": "Abshiro Soka Halake",
        "slug": "abshiro-soka-halake"
    },
    "content": "This Bill is timely and it is time our Government stood up and gave the support that is required not just in the framework but also in the financial support that our young people and investors need. Just looking at some of the provisions in this Bill, the registrar of start-ups and admission as incubation program-- So far the reason why Kenyan start-ups have really grown is because it is just driven by innovation and not so much by the straight jacket. I am happy that this Bill has tried as much as possible not to be very prescriptive. However, if there is anywhere Sen. Sakaja finds there are very many sub sections on what needs to be happening in terms of registration or admission into an incubation program or financial expansion and scale ups, let us make it as flexible and nimble as possible so that we do not have undesired consequences of a legislation that stifles innovation. We have to make sure there is a balance and a very tight rope that we are going to walk if we are going to make sure that we do not stifle what we have done so far in the growth of our private sector and start-ups. I have been blessed enough to have been part of the entire journey of financing of start-ups in this country. At one point, I was fundraising for telco companies that were supposed to provide medical services to the Red Cross system. What I have learnt is that there is so much money out there. Madam Temporary Speaker, since our Government through our legislatures such as Sen. Sakaja are putting in place the right frameworks, you will be amazed at how much money and technical support this Bill is going to unlock for our local start-ups. However, having said that, we should make sure that the Bill does not take the trajectory of prescribing a lot of steps, requirements and things which then we may have what may be a counterintuitive approach to doing this. I thank Sen. Sakaja and encourage him to make sure that at the Committee Stage, any risk to stifle innovation or prescribe too many steps are going to be ironed out. I have no reason to believe it is. The Bill will do that. We need to make sure that we do not stifle through certifications and stuff like that. That said, I thank the team with those few remarks and I support this Bill. I look forward to seeing it implemented. Madam Temporary Speaker, as the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), I am very proud of the fact that this sector has been identified as an enabler of growth. Also, not just as an enabler but a product that can be sold and contribute to the socio-economic wellbeing of our country. It should also provide the needed employment for our youth and reduce the poverty that is really biting us. Youth poverty seems to be highest at different levels. I congratulate the sponsor of the Bill and look forward to working with him to see it implemented. Thank you."
}