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{
    "id": 1192676,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1192676/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 24,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "This Motion seeks to implore Members of Parliament to consider expanding the mandate of the NG-CDF to take up the development of skills and provision of tools for artists, artisans and innovation. When I started moving, I indicated that each and every Member in this House knows of a case in his or her constituency of a great innovator who has a challenge of showing their innovation to the world because of lack of funds. We know that Kenya has innovative artists and artisans. In my Constituency, if you drive from Dagoretti Corner all the way to the bypass at Lenana School, you will see the road lined up with wares paraded by artisans who are craftsmen. What you see at the front is just the shop, but what happens at the back is what I would call a training academy because there are so many apprentices who are learning from the craftsmen, traders and artisans. The innovations coming from those youths do not see the light of day because they have small challenges in acquiring tools and developing their skills. The intent of this Motion is to call to us as Members of Parliament to think of a way of funding the development of skills, apprenticeship and provision of tools, just as we do for sports. Hon. Deputy Speaker, currently, there is a legislative proposal before this House which intends to make the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) a bit more robust. We intend to even improve on the monies that will go to the NG-CDF. Even as we approve the legislative proposal, what else can we bring on board? I told this House that we are in an era where ideas are currency and where each individual shall be remunerated commensurate with the problems that they solve. The problem-solvers of our time are innovators. What support are they getting today? None at all. Not from the Government, corporate Kenya or even from us, as Members of Parliament. We have seen instances where innovations have been supported. For example, corporates in Kenya have hackathons. Out of those hackathons, we have had young people develop applications and solutions. In Dagoretti South Constituency, we have a school feeding programme where the meal card is an electric armband that young children wear to school. That armband is fed to an application such that when a parent pays for the meal at lunchtime, you can scan the armband and tell how much money the child has for lunch. The case I am making is that when we support innovation, the youth in Kenya can leapfrog to the front of the pile in terms of innovation. I made a great case for this Motion during the time I had in the last session. I do not want to take more time. I would just like to implore Members of Parliament to support this Motion by considering the artisans, artists and innovators in your constituencies and see the case for supporting them through the NG-CDF. 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."
}