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{
    "id": 1163596,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1163596/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 109,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Khaniri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 171,
        "legal_name": "George Munyasa Khaniri",
        "slug": "george-khaniri"
    },
    "content": "Other important trade partners to Kenya in terms of volume of goods and size of transactions are Britain, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and China which is the leading one on the list, among others. In the year 2021, Kenyans total export earnings stood at Kshs739 billion. This is quite impressive and goes to show that we have very good potential as a country. However, what taints this impressive figure is that 60 per cent of these export earnings was spent in importing China made goods alone not including imports from other countries that Kenya trades with. Imports from China alone hit a high Kshs441billion in the year 2021. A just by 22 per cent from the previous year and this has been a continuing trend. This means that Kenya paid China alone Kshs60 for every Kshs100, it earned from selling items like flowers, tea and coffee to Europe to buy Chinese products such as electronics, textiles, household goods, among others. Let us us not forget the additional Kshs107 billion in debt repayments to China in the period effectively, raising the total forex out flows to Beijing to 74 per cent of our total export earnings. It is evident in the figure that something needs to be done. Cheaper imports from China, which includes industrial and construction machinery, consumer and capital goods, electronics, clothing items and commercial vehicles have edged out local products and imports from other countries in recent years deeming the growth of Kenya’s industrial sector. These have in turn caused a lot of unemployment in the country since the share of jobs in the economy has fallen. Madam Deputy Speaker, Kenya has tried to put effort through agricultural produce such as avocados. This has proven difficult because Beijing has imposed such stringent measures in receiving imports from Kenya in order to control the fruit fly pest. This trade imbalance between these two countries is a major a factor in Kenya’s widening trade deficit. This is not only unfair, but also not a good way of creating good partnership and encouraging inter country relations. I have said it over and again in this House that Kenya is a very blessed nation. We have very many natural resources, manpower and skills at our disposal. Why is it then that we end up spending so much money importing goods and services which we are capable of providing for ourselves? It is a shame to see our youth languishing in poverty and wasting away because they have no way out. We have the ability to empower our youth to do the jobs that we are outsourcing. Through this, we will not promote our industries but also remove our people from the grips of poverty and hopelessness. One of Kenya’s biggest imports is petroleum. In the year 2012, there were plans to start a petroleum development levy a stabilisation fund and to build fuel tanks as a long term solution to fuel importation. How far are we with these plans? It is a shame that we spend billions of shillings on resources that we as a country have the capability to produce and provide for ourselves while our people die in poverty. When we outsource the Chinese to build our infrastructure, they come with their own manpower. China is doing everything possible to empower their country. Why can we then not follow suit? I am certain it is not because Kenyans do not have the ability, but because we have not provided the proper opportunities and conditions for them. Look at the companies in the Export Processing Zones (EPZ). They produce high quality clothes which they export to other countries. The same clothes are then imported"
}