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{
    "id": 1128380,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1128380/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 647,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Wilberforce Oundo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13331,
        "legal_name": "Wilberforce Ojiambo Oundo",
        "slug": "wilberforce-ojiambo-oundo-2"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. This Bill is important for us as a country. Under Vision 2030, Kenya is supposed to be industrialised by the year 2030. That means more Kenyans need to be employed directly and indirectly in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. However, as we stand now, the industry and manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP has always remained small and has not been of much importance to this economy. As you are aware, many of the products we have in this country are imported. Even very basic items like toothpicks, which we can easily manufacture, are imported. We have an endemic problem of counterfeit and substandard goods simply because there is no market or manufacturer for authentic and good quality goods. When the Government, through a multi-agency taskforce; clamped on fake, substandard contraband goods in 2018, it became apparent that, as a country, we must focus our attention on industrial production. For us to do so, we need to make concerted efforts in terms of research to find a cost-effective way of producing goods that meet both local and international standards. For many years, KIRDI has literally been domesticated. It used to lie between the Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the State Department for Industry. It never had any specific governance structure that would enable it to move forward. If you look at the Fourth Schedule of Science, Technology and Innovation Act, you will find that KIRDI is mentioned among the various state organs that are overseen by the National Council of Science and Technology. Because of the overlap of mandate, it has become extremely difficult for KIRDI to undertake their mandate, which is essentially research in industrial production, among many other related activities. The Bill before us seeks to give KIRDI its own mandate so that it can stand on its own and undertake its functions independently, without being saddled by bureaucrats from various State Departments which seem to have so many people sitting on the Board and, therefore, seem to lack direction on how to proceed. The Bill basically provides the governance structure which lays down the specific functions of KIRDI as relates to industrial production. This country has had enumerable research findings in agriculture and other sectors. We have probably proceeded well in the medical sector, but we have lagged behind in industrial production. That is why whatever the Jua Kali sector produces does not meet international standards and, therefore, cannot be sold anywhere beyond the confines of 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."
}