Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1128381,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1128381/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 648,
    "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": "Kenya. Whatever we produce are not our own products as we are simply in the assembling business. We import knocked down kits, assemble and then pretend that we are seriously doing research. If KIRDI had been appropriately supported, the Nyayo Pioneer Car would be roving this country. However, since KIRDI has had no support in terms of research to produce new technology domestically, we have had to import most of those things. Surely, we cannot progress on our own that way. Our constituencies have industrial development centres where basic tools are supposed to be produced. It is not surprising that 90 per cent of basic tools like sewing machines, leather machines and even grinders are imported and yet, we have the technology. We have the Numerical Machining Complex, but it is unable to progress because there is no input in research. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I sit in the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives and when the Cabinet Secretary appeared before us one day, we asked what the problem was. We were told that Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute has assets, but is not independently funded. It is funded through the State Department of Industrialization and whatever they get is not enough for them to undertake serious research and disseminate the information they have gathered over time. We were convinced that there is a reason to separate and debunk it from the National Science and Technology Commission of Kenya so that it serves on its own. It is also important that they get their own separate budget lines so that we are able to deal with them meaningfully. Once they have their own budget lines, they will be able to attract additional funding from elsewhere. They will also be able to have collaborations and networks with universities so that whatever research and theory we teach our children in school can be translated into practice when they go out. We hope they will, over time, give us tools and equipment that will allow incubation. Generally, we have our young bright guys, but they lack incubation centres. Even though there are physical bureau of incubation centres, there is basically no equipment that are cost-effective to enable them produce goods that can compete in the market. We look forward to a time when the best items in our households will be locally manufactured and marketed through the “Buy Kenya Build Kenya” campaign. You should not import furniture from Malaysia and yet, we have our young men and women who have skills in carpentry. They produce items for the low income cadre of our society and, therefore, the middle class members of our society do not want to buy from them. It beats logic as to why you would go to Bata to buy sandals or slippers and yet, our friends in Lower Eastern Kenya make very nice and long-lasting sandals from tyres. This is simply because we do not have a medium or state organ that has mainstream local research in manufacturing of our products. To some extent, we glorify imported goods. Many of us go for trips in Europe and buy items, including shoes, that can be locally manufactured and of a much better quality. The enactment of this Bill should be a wake- up call to all Kenyans. We should not be ashamed of our own products even if they are not as glittery as products from other countries."
}