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{
    "id": 1473966,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1473966/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 172,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Webuye West, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Daniel Wanyama",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, on Wednesday, 24th July 2024, during the afternoon sitting, Hon. Irene Mayaka requested for a statement regarding the position of the Kenya National Under-17 years football team. Specifically, the Member sought a response to two issues. One of the issues was plans that the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, has made to ensure that the players have the opportunity to take their exams at a time that does not conflict with their participation in the World Cup. The other issue was the measures being taken by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts and other stakeholders, including the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and ensure that the team goes back to camp for preparation. I have since received a comprehensive response from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, which I have shared with the Hon. Member. I beg to read the key points of the Report before I table it. On plans that the Ministry has, the Junior Starlets secured an impressive 3-0 victory against Ethiopia, allowing Kenya to advance to the final round with a 3-0 goal aggregate. The fourth and final round of the qualifiers saw the Junior Starlets face Burundi in the first leg, once again in Addis Ababa. Kenya dominated with another 3-0 win, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure. The second leg, played in Nairobi, resulted in a 2-0 victory for Kenya culminating in a 5-0 aggregate win and securing their place in the World Cup. Concerning making sure that the players have an opportunity to take their exams as per the Kenyan National Examination Council policy of handling hardship cases for affected candidates sitting national examinations, the Council will liaise with the centre managers of the affected six secondary schools and make appropriate arrangements within the examination period for administration of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) papers that clashes with the World Cup fixtures for the Kenyan team. Further, the Kenya National Examination Council wishes to bring to your attention the fact that there will be no national assessment for Grade Eight students in October 2024 and therefore the Grade Eight learner in the team will not be affected by the World Cup schedule. About the preparation for the World Cup, the team has developed a comprehensive preparation plan focussing on both physical readiness and strategic refinement in anticipation for the FIFA World Cup. The plan is as elaborated in the schedule, of which the Hon. Member has a copy. Despite that plan, some Junior Starlet players are candidates who are awaiting the national exams. To address this, the Federation wrote to the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry wrote to the Kenyan National Examination Council with a copy to the Ministry of Education requesting special arrangements for the eight players to undertake the KCSE and Grade Eight examinations. Copies are attached and the Hon. Member has the same. The Ministry is consulting with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the players not only participate in the World Cup, but also sit for their national examinations through a special arrangement. All the necessary preparations are in place for the team to start their residential local camp. Actually, the residential camp started on 18th August and will continue all the way to 1st of October. The Member has been given a schedule and a roadmap for the same. I submit, Hon. Temporary Speaker."
}