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{
"id": 1224111,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1224111/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
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"speaker": {
"id": 407,
"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
"slug": "ledama-olekina"
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"content": "As I stand here to support the Bill by my good friend, Sen. M. Kajwang’, I remind Kenyans that in every training and profession that we carry, if it is a hotel, we will require technical support. In any profession, in fact, I dare say, the number of doctors who are employed or the demand for doctors is not equal to the demand of plumbers, carpenters and electricians. This Bill speaks to the heart of creating employment in this country. I support this Bill because of what is happening in our country. Looking at the informal sector, which contributes immensely to the economy of this country, one can ask themselves whether doctors and lawyers are the ones who pay the most in taxes or it is these people who are not recognized. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Bill. I hope that the drafter of this Bill, the distinguished Senator for Homa Bay County, can consider bringing an amendment to ensure that the last statement that he made, of recognizing prior learning experience is entrenched into the Bill. This will ensure that those people who are born as artisans can be recognized, given certificates and an opportunity to train other Kenyans. Sometimes you look for a plumber or an electrician, but do not get them. So, this Bill helps a lot. I like the fact that in the Fourth Schedule, --- That is the only part that I will differ a little bit with my colleague, if I heard him correctly in terms of the amendment of the Constitution. The only thing that we should do if we were to amend, is to ensure that we send more money to support these Technical and Vocational Training Centres (TVETs). County governments should take their role. I like the fact that he wants county governments to support TVETs. The only part that I think we are overregulating, is if we require regulation on driving schools, barber shops and beauty parlours. So long as we have already regulated the training, allow people to go and make their money. The problem we have in this country is that we are in love with taxation. We overtax people. Recently, I got a call from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) telling me to start paying another levy in my manufacturing of milk. We are trying to kill the manufacturing sector in this country. When you now require that even a hairdresser is regulated by the county government, the county government will begin taxing that hairdresser. A driving school will be taxed as if we are not taxed enough. You are already paying the Value Added Tax (VAT). In fact, I believe the only way we can lower the cost of living in this country, is to first of all eliminate unnecessary taxation of our people. We overtax our people. I feel bad that we overtax our people so that we can please the West, Internal Monetary Fund (IMF) and all the Bretton Wood Institutions by paying the loans that they give us. I like that fact that the Bill attempts to regulate, where it talks of standardising exams across the country. If we do that, any mushrooming vocational trainings that will come up, will exist following a particular statutory. In conclusion, I request Sen. M. Kajwang’ to think about adding in the Bill, the aspect of ensuring that we recognise prior learning experiences. Every county should start registering plumbers, masons and electricians who have learned out of experience."
}