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{
"id": 1475560,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1475560/?format=api",
"text_counter": 341,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "West Mugirango, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Stephen Mogaka",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute. At the outset, I support this Bill. I also commend this Committee for a stellar performance in originating a Bill that will put Africa in its place in the development of the globe. In particular, I celebrate the idea that, as a country, we are now standing up to the occasion that technology is the answer to development solutions. I would like to celebrate the idea that our young persons who have been looking for physical jobs, where they report and work personally in offices, do not have to do so. That is not the way to go, going forward. I agree with the Committee’s recommendation that we must align Kenyan laws to allow people to work from home or wherever they are. The office will move from the physical places that we know offices to be, to the telephone, laptop or computer. In particular, I encourage that whereas we are creating that authority, it must respect the Constitution. It must also have a devolved mechanism so that we do not only hear about Konza Technopolis. We would like to hear very many other techno cities in the Republic. This will ensure that we can support our youth all over the country to tool themselves to deal with the modern age technology and the demands of the work environment that is emerging. It is true that more money is made online than conventionally. Therefore, it is imperative that our children get properly tooled to participate in the new and emerging software economy where they work from wherever they are and dollars roll into their bank accounts. I will propose some amendments to the Bill. This is because since Konza Technopolis has had the benefit of the investment by the country’s resources so far, it is, perhaps, time that it got a baby by way of having a branch or being devolved to other regions of the Republic. In this way, we can capture a bigger catchment area to ensure that we on-board all the youth who are keen to be on the first lane. I would also like to associate myself with the comments made by one of my constituents, Hon. Irene Mayaka. As we can recall, we are putting up an industrial park at Sironga Grounds in West Mugirango Constituency. I would like to offer that, as an extension of the tour of that industrial park, we can have a techno sub-city, by whatever name, extended to cover the western region. This will help cover the innovative population in that area. Among the leading brains in Information Communication Technology (ICT), innovation and software development, particularly in the United States of America (USA), majority of those children hail from my village and its environs. I can say that with tremendous respect. Therefore, it would be very welcome if this Committee agreed that we invite those gurus to come over, partner and do their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) back home to help develop sub- cities to the technopolis that we are talking about. I want to encourage this Committee, that the 13th Parliament will be counted for having taken Kenya to the next level of being a leader in technology use. I urge the young men in this Republic, to rise to the occasion and put their best foot forward, be the best not only in Kenya, but also conquer the globe technologically. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with that, I beg to support. 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."
}