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{
"id": 1515205,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1515205/?format=api",
"text_counter": 234,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
"speaker": null,
"content": "former Governor Waititu in terms of who will perform better. Former Governors Kabogo and Nyoro did exceptionally well. You can ask anybody from Kiambu County. They will vindicate me. I will stand vindicated by the people of Kiambu. I am also vindicated by the people of Nakuru County when I say that Governor Lee Kinyanjui midwifed the ascension of Nakuru County from a municipality to the city that Nakuru County is today. This is something that is known even by Kenyans at large. As I said earlier, these nominees are not new to the public service. They are seasoned politicians and seasoned public officers. I pray and hope that when they take over their offices, whether it is Hon. Mutahi Kagwe in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui in the Ministry of Investments Trade and Industry or Hon. Gitau Kabogo in the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, they will serve all the people of this country with the dedication and commitment that we have seen them serve in the various other capacities that they have served the nation in. There are challenges in the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy with the rollout of the fibre optic cable. Additionally, during the vetting process, Hon. Pukose mentioned the need to ensure that the far-flung corners and districts of our country are also connected to the internet. If approved by this House, the Cabinet Secretary nominee, Hon. Kabogo, has a challenge to ensure that every corner of this country has internet accessibility. He should not just ensure that people are getting Government services through e-Citizen but also ensure that Kenyans saying that you can finya komputa upate dola can work online from any corner of this country. You do not need to be in an urban area in order to access internet services but even those in El Wak, Karachuonyo and far-flung corners of Turkana County can also access internet services. I am happy that during the vetting process, Governor Kabogo articulated that he will explore new technology, like the Starlink, to ensure that people in far-flung areas who cannot get internet access through the fibre optic cable, access internet connectivity and jobs. He also promised to bring sanity within the digital space. Hon. Mutahi Kagwe has his work cut out. I am happy that during the vetting process he clearly articulated the challenges that bedevil our agriculture sector, including productivity in the agricultural sector, access to markets and making agriculture profitable to farmers. I am glad that he articulated how he will work to make agriculture profitable and ensure that our country is food secure. He also promised that there will be access to markets and good prices not just for the tea, coffee, milk and pyrethrum farmers but also for the potato and sugarcane farmers. As I challenged Hon. Mutahi Kagwe during the vetting exercise, I pray that he will not be swallowed by the cartels that have swallowed even other ‘bigger people’, not just in that ministry, but even in ‘bigger offices’. There are people, in this country, who were given the responsibility to midwife the access to markets for our coffee and tea farmers, but they became cartels themselves. We have heard tales in this country where somebody demanded Ksh3 per kilogramme of coffee being exported out of this country. I pray that Hon. Mutahi Kagwe will serve the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development with the diligence and integrity that we saw him serve in the ministries that he served before. As I said earlier, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, my good friend from Nakuru County, did well as Governor but he now has his work cut out for him. The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry now falls on his shoulders. He has rather broad shoulders which I believe will carry this Ministry to the next level where it ought to be. It is shameful that less than 20 years ago, our country was leading in terms manufacturing as a percentage of our GDP. In the region, not just in East Africa, but in East, Central, and Southern Africa, with the exception of Botswana and South Africa, Kenya had the highest percentage in terms of manufacturing contribution to our GDP. But today, neighbouring countries like Uganda that were largely importing manufactured goods from Kenya are ahead of us. 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."
}