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{
    "id": 1478820,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1478820/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 155,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Manyatta, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gitonga Mukunji",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to also support this motion. I commend my brother the Member for Dagoretti, for such a thoughtful Motion. I am very intrigued by the proposal of a science museum. It is true that we have allowed for too long our stories to be told by people who do not care much about our history. A science museum will be a very important establishment for the future of this country and for the future of Africa in terms of the advances that have been there since time immemorial in science. Interestingly, Hon. Temporary Speaker, Hon. K. J, who is in the arts, is the one who is proposing a museum for science. I believe this country has contributed a lot to the advancement of science in the world. Just the other day, I was reading a book and found out that what we call dirty jeans originated from this country, somewhere in Naivasha. But if you look around, you will find that the patent for such things is not in this country, but is somewhere in the United States. It is true that the contributions of Kenyans and Africans in the colonial history was documented by the whites and not by the people who actually were supposed to give the story. It is sad, wrong, and a big loss for our African culture, that even what we depend on is not by us, but by tourists. We have had advancements in gastronomy research that is being done in this country for years, but you will not find those things in our history because we do not have a science museum. That is why I really commend this Motion. It contributes a lot in ensuring that we create a multi-million niche in research and advance the local technologies that have come from within as opposed to depending on what we get from without. We have a lot of interest in Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). It is one of the organisations that need to be well-guarded, but the Government does not give them much for research. It tells you why we have a very low output when it comes to science research. We really need continuous embracement of research regarding the problems that we face in science today. Recently, we had COVID-19, but not much money was allocated for the creation of medicine by our own institutions and people. I believe that for a country that is bombarded with a lot of things from the West, it is upon the National Assembly and the current administration to ensure that we allocate resources to improve the technologies that can advance our country. I am happy that today, we are talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Interestingly, I heard Hon. K.J. mention that with AI, we should be able to document things from our past and ensure that they are well preserved in a science museum. This country has put some little effort in ensuring that we are leading in the research on Artificial Intelligence. We are waiting for others to do things, then we pick it up. That is why you find we have embraced technologies and applications from outside without empowering our own technological advancements. I believe all this can be said, but if there is no deliberate funding, we will not be able to keep up with what is happening in the world. The world is moving too fast and when it is moving too fast, there is need to put more effort. While we encourage job tourism outside Kenya, we should have a strategy to retain some minds within Kenya for advancement of our own country and ensure that our workforce does not have brain- drain. I believe this Motion regarding science museums is something that needs to be supported. I support it 100 per cent and the Government needs to do an extra thing and ensure that it deliberately funds science. I was in the University of Nairobi and many of the researches 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."
}