Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1462255,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1462255/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 103,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Oketch Gicheru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I would want us to appreciate as a country that even if in the mind of some leaders that seems like a temporary solution, we must focus on medium and long-term solution, which has made the young people agitated in this country. I hope that the Senate Majority Leader because he is also a young man in this House, can listen to this. Young people in this country are facing an economic problem and we must devise a proper solution towards it. With the naming and confirmation of the current Cabinet Secretaries, I hope they will recognize that we shall not know peace in this country, if young people are still wallowing in the miasma of economic disenfranchisement. It is very important that the Cabinet Secretaries who have taken charge of this country to start a proper engagement with areas that are able to create economic opportunity for young people. There has been this phenomenon of sometimes exporting labour and sending young people outside the country. I saw the other day the Prime Cabinet Secretary flagging off about 167 young people, who are going to be teachers outside the country. There are serious industries in this country. I hope that the Executive would listen carefully to this and start budgeting for those areas so that they are not excluded on the basis of tribal or regional budgeting that denies some areas opportunity that can create employment for those areas. One of those areas that I am very keen on is the lake region. I saw the former Governor of Mombasa County, currently the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs being sworn in. If you look at lake region where I come from, the immense potential of Lake Victoria in that area has not been tapped. As I speak, the country is facing a serious shortage of fish. The market for fish in this country is 600 million metric tonnes, and yet, what we currently have in the country is only 200 million metric tonnes, out of which 80 per cent is allowed as a wild catch and 20 per cent is what people are growing in fish caging. One of the two companies in Lake Victoria that are today doing proper stocking of fish farming is American. It is called Victory Farm. They are doing wonderful farming in that region, but they are not yet able to scratch the surface. That farm alone employs 1,000 young people. You cannot compare. GASPI Africa has done research in Lake Victoria and shown that the lake on the side of Kenya alone can produce up to 400 metric tonnes. This is worth Kshs120 billion, yet we are struggling to raise Kshs145 billion in the county, which we have cut in national budget on fiscal consolidation. Rio Fish in Lake Victoria is now employing over 40 young people directly and 200 young people indirectly. Mr. Speaker, Sir, young people in this country will not be leaving streets anytime soon if we are not deliberate about solving the economic problems of young people in this country. As long as young people are hungry and do not have jobs and an income, they will still go to the streets. I call upon the Cabinet Secretaries that got the jobs today, starting from my very good friend, Hon. John Mbadi and Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, it is time that you go there as experts and make sure that you dissect the economy and put in place projects that can allow young people to get jobs in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I thank you so much. I hope that we will look at the issue of economic empowerment of young people in this country."
}