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{
    "id": 1159401,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1159401/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 88,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emuhaya, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13328,
        "legal_name": "Jeremiah Omboko Milemba",
        "slug": "jeremiah-omboko-milemba"
    },
    "content": "Regulating this sector will be very important, especially, to the education sector. This is because ICT is currently playing a major role in the education sector, especially with the CBC. You often hear parents talk about having phones that are digital, and so on. Therefore, it is important that we regulate this sector so that we know the type of information that is reaching the learners. Be it as it may, and with the COVID-19 experience which we saw and which we are still grappling with, it is a sure bet that education soon or later, as the late Prof. Eshiwani, the Vice- Chancellor for Kenyatta University had put it, education is now moving from the four walls to the space. Therefore, when this happens, the ICT technology and revolution would be moving this education in space and not the four walls of the class. This is a very good law for the education sector in terms of regulating any information that would be reaching our students in our schools. Let me be quick to indicate that what needs to be taken care of - without repeating what other Members of Parliament have spoken about - will be found in the amendments. Many such regulations and laws that come to Parliament – and we have been dealing with a number of them for quite some time – have had connotative intention of delimiting or reducing the playing ground of those that are within that sector. I am happy Hon. Osotsi seems to allude to this in one of his amendments. For instance, it is the composition of the council of the institute that will regulate this particular sector. Possibly, if we get time, I will put in more amendments so that this council is widened to include other players who will be serious stakeholders- like the ones in the education sector; and who will be concerned specifically with knowing the kind of information that is being used; and how it can affect our young learners who are in schools. I will support that amendment and still, widen it so that we have a greater range of people in that council and institute. Moving on to the qualifications of those who will qualify to join this particular sector, some laws have been done in sectorial areas and many examples have been given by Hon. Osotsi, which is good. However, they generally tend to create a duopolistic situation in those particular sectors; sometimes, even a monopolistic understanding so that there are few players and lock out others who qualify. Hon. Osotsi, I would wish that we look at the level of qualifications so that it does not block people who have been trained in this sector to completely be left out, like we have seen in other professions which later on becomes a problem and that, that particular sector is controlled by few players who do not allow in any others to enter. On that point still, when we as Parliament look at this law generally, we should allow space for innovation and invention. That is because it is a sector that is growing very fast and is still undergoing a lot of revolution. If we lock it too early, then we shall not be allowing young people who are testing their skills and coming up with innovations – like MPesa and the modern innovations that are related to ICT – to prosper. We do not want to kill them because of this law. Therefore, when we come to the amendments, let us do them in such a way that it will encourage innovation and invention, and still control the sector for the holistic good of everyone in Kenya. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}