Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1477293,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1477293/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 363,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In replying, I ought to say that the Konza Technopolis Development Authority already exists. However, the jurisdiction of that Authority is limited to the purview of Konza area. This Bill seeks to ensure that if Kenya decides to establish another Technopolis out of Konza, there will be a legal framework for it. Presently, Konza is alive because of the Kenya Technopolis Development Authority, which will exist for ten years only even though it is leasing land for tenures of up to 90 years. This Bill seeks to transition the Konza Technopolis Development Authority to the Technopolis Authority, which will cover way beyond Konza. This is because of the reasons Members have given. I have sat here throughout the debate and listened to amazing input by Members on this Bill. We had a great start from Wakili Murugara with great insights as to why we stand to benefit since this Bill allows us to have technopolis in places other than Konza. He went into deep details on how we will benefit from the transition clauses provided in this Bill. I want to thank Hon. Murugara, Hon. Karemba, Hon. Mawathe and all those who contributed. This afternoon, Dr Oundo made some amazing suggestions. He told us about the potential misuse of technology and how we can use provisions in this new Bill to curb against such misuse. Many Members have talked about the dangers of technology and why we need to mitigate against them. Hon. Oundo asked whether this Bill purports to usurp the powers of the Planning Department. I stand to say no. By building a technopolis, we are not taking powers out of any existing entity. In fact, for us to see it visually in our minds, we have to visit Konza Technopolis and see the development happening there as Kenya works on developing its own Silicon Valley. As we speak today, almost all horizontal infrastructure needed for Konza is already in place. In fact, they are now working on the vertical development and they are ready to attract multinational big tech companies to invest. This is because the smart installations allow us to have the first ever Silicon Savanna in the continent thus propelling Kenya to the front of the pile in terms of development. There was a concern from Hon. Dr Oundo on how we will deal with the issue of humanising technology. This is a real issue. As we develop and advance very fast to digitise, we ought to remember that we need to humanise the digital systems more than the digital systems digitising humans. We do not want to get to a place where technology replaces human intelligence or knowledge. Hon. Rindikiri talked of an opportunity to connect the digital innovation hubs that we are building in our constituencies to the technopolis that shall be built moving forward. Hon. Millie Odhiambo, who was on the Floor a bit earlier, spoke to us about the governance issues. I want to agree with her. On that issue, I would not even want to have a pushback because she has a better understanding as a lawyer. Moreover, she would understand better the Mwongozo provisions. It is for the Authority, when it is formed, to take into consideration the fact that we must include our young people of both genders in the running and governance of the technopolis. She also told us that this is a good opportunity to formalise the whole technology space granted by this Bill. She also spoke on the negative technological spinoffs that are in the offing and put some very good bills to that aspect. Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba was keen to let us know that we are not only talking about today but the future. She propelled us into a future we can imagine ourselves in. Rather than hope for a good future, she told us to imagine that good future that we want. She said we ought to reserve land for future development. She said we have to think beyond our lifetime. More importantly, she asked whether we can have a technopolis in every constituency and county. Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to inform Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba since she does not know that a technopolis is a city in itself. It is constituencies that will have to be fitting in our technopolis and not the other way round. 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."
}