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{
    "id": 1128348,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1128348/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 615,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "barriers and giving bodies like KIRDI the operational independence they need so that they can take this country to the next level. I listened to His Excellency the President addressing a meeting in South Africa in the presence of his host, President Ramaphosa. He mentioned the whole issue of why Africa should be moving and working together, and not competing against each other just because some boundaries were drawn by some colonialists and separated us. He talked of how we need to do an integrated African trade. Much as we are removing the boundaries through Africa wide trade, we are not going to compete with Uganda or Rwanda or South Africa or Egypt unless we can come up with products that are cost effective. Such products can then be competitive in the market to be able to attract customers and have an upper hand over goods coming from the rest of Africa. That is where institutions like KIRDI can come in. Although KIRDI was initially formed to respond to shortages arising from the Second World War, we have also seen what happens with pandemics like COVID-19. There was disruption in the supply chain on a global basis. We could not get personal protective equipment (PPEs). Such institutions came through in terms of innovativeness and we were able to supply PPEs to our hospitals and to our neighbours. We have capacity in this country. All we need is to be able to support research for industrial development and the youth in this country will become innovators. You have seen what happens in the Jua Kali industry. All the people need is some validation and quality control over what they produce and Kenya will produce products that are at par with products from the rest of the world. That way, we can give hope to the youth of this country. They will have enabling institutes that are fully funded and that will help them move forward in a better way. They will thus not have to fall for political promises anchored on ancient tools. Again, this is a very straightforward Bill. Basically, what we want to do is to capture the spirit of giving KIRDI the legal anchorage and challenge them to respond to the issues that were raised in Vision 2030, which recognizes innovation and advancement in technology as some of the things that will take Kenya to a middle-income status and afford us the quality of life that we aspire for. I could go on and on talking on this topic. It is something I love."
}