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{
    "id": 1267714,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1267714/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 196,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Currently there are demonstrations. You will realise that WhatsApp is being used to propagate certain illegalities. However, none of these companies remit taxes because they are not registered in Kenya. I was in Kigali recently for a conference on women empowerment. We were struggling with the logistics and how to get from point A to B. I simply asked colleagues who were with me why we could not request for an Uber. It was shocking to find out that Uber does not operate in Rwanda because the Rwandan Government has ensured that all the data being generated, even by the digital taxi apps, is stored locally. If the Government of Rwanda can legislate to ensure that their data is stored locally so as to take care of the data and security industries, then it is possible for us as Kenya to legislate and clean up this industry. Our data is being stored out there and we do not even know who is trading with it. We know that there are third-party service providers who trade on our data. This Bill is just the first of many steps we need to take in order to regulate this industry. I have sponsored another Bill called the Data Protection Bill where I will be pushing that we store our data locally. In the absence of the Konza Technopolis Bill, then we are lost. Many innovative Bills are going to be brought here but in the absence of a legal framework that we are trying to put that is going to be scaled up to all the counties, then we will not legislate effectively. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is time we said no to cartels out there. It is time we made hard decisions as a government. We need to regulate the industry. We need a legal framework for Konza or any other technopolis in the nation. We also need to look into digital content creation, innovation and online space and regulate them. As we are here in this Chamber, there are many things happening online that are creating instability in this country. We have people who create fake accounts to incite the public and push them to what they call maandamano . It is because we do not have legislation to ensure conviction of the criminals. We must start from a place of understanding that any industry that exists must be regulated. There has to be some form of oversight. Konza Technopolis should no longer exist in oblivion or operate in moonlighting. We need accountability, oversight and legal frameworks. This Bill seeks to ensure that the same is achieved. Some of the feedback we are getting is to ensure that county governments are involved more. That is what I got from Sen. Mungatana, Sen. Cherarkey and Sen. Mandago. That is something we will consider. The 10 years required for a person to be a Chair, board member or the CEO has been my concern and I raised it with the committee. As I said, it has been difficult to even relay the message as the Sponsor. As the Sponsor of this Bill, I have repeatedly told the committee and stakeholders involved that a 10-year minimum qualifications is not what I fronted. There is also an issue when it comes to the qualifications of the CEO that they must have a degree. We are moving to competence-based education. We want to ensure that our informal skilled workers can thrive and get to spaces where they can have an impact. We changed our curriculum such that it is not just about churning out papers and degrees but skills and competencies. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}