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{
"id": 1515206,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1515206/?format=api",
"text_counter": 235,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
"speaker": null,
"content": "According to the 2023 statistics, Uganda's manufacturing industry has grown to contribute at least 15.65 per cent to their GDP, whereas Kenya's is at a level of about 7.3 per cent, less than half that of Uganda. When and how Uganda overtook us in manufacturing is a challenge that Hon. Lee Kinyanjui has to reverse. There is no sector that can create more jobs than manufacturing. I believe that if we leverage on increased productivity in agriculture, good technology and technical skills amongst the youth in this country, it is possible to grow industries and increase our manufacturing sector's contribution to our GDP almost threefold, to at least 20 per cent. We have stagnated at about 7 per cent for the last 12 years, and time is nigh. I believe that Hon. Lee Kinyanjui has what it takes to improve this. I have confidence that these three cabinet secretaries have what it takes to move us to where we want to be as a nation in terms of implementing the Bottom- Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Hon. Speaker, I know there are issues and note that there are memoranda that were filed before the Committee on Appointments, which we all considered. The nominees were given these memoranda, and they responded to them. One of the salient issues in these memoranda was the question of two-thirds gender rule. As Members know, it is good to inform the country, that we look at the Cabinet composition in its totality, and not these three nominees. Therefore, in terms of adherence to that two-thirds gender rule, we are doing well. There are still slots that are available in the Cabinet. I ask, His Excellency the President, Hon. William Ruto, to ensure that there are, at least, both genders, not just one gender, in his next appointments. This will ensure that we truly conform to the two-thirds gender rule. But as we are, even without the full composition of Cabinet, we have done well with, at least, six cabinet secretaries, including the Attorney-General, being ladies. In terms of regional balance, it is true, and there are issues that were raised, that these three nominees hail from one region. It is true that they all hail from one region. But again, we look at the composition of Cabinet in totality. The composition is representative of our population numbers. The representation of our communities and various regions in Cabinet is well represented. That should also shut those who have been intent on inciting the people of the region where these members come from. I know there are those who have said that Mount Kenya Region was being represented in Cabinet by people who are not known. But there are people and Kenyans who also deserve to serve in Cabinet. Some of those people like Dr Andrew Karanja were appointed, with a very good Curriculum Vitae. I am glad the President has given him an opportunity to go and serve the country in Brazil. All the other Cabinet Secretaries who had been appointed earlier, and are capable, can serve in other capacities. These three gentlemen: Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, Hon. William Kabogo, and Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, are not coming in to serve the people of Mount Kenya. Agriculture and Livestock is not in Mount Kenya alon, neither is trade and investments. They are joining these dockets to serve all the people of Kenya as cabinet secretaries. I encourage them to serve the people of Kenya without any regard to the regions they come from. They should serve people fairly and equally. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, where the State Department for Livestock Development falls, should consider the people of Marsabit County, even in their pastoralist activities. They should be considered just like the people of Othaya are considered in their coffee farming or the people of Limuru in Kiambu County in their tea farming. Equally, they should be considered the way the people of Kikuyu are considered in their small-scale potato farming. I say small-scale because we live on pieces of land measuring 50 by 100 feet. We also rear livestock and are key stakeholders because we are butchers in Dagoretti. I am saying that so that all these cabinet secretaries serve us as Kenyans. Nobody should ever look at them on the basis of the regions where they come from. There are others who may have wanted or attempted to be cabinet secretaries. It is sad that today we have cabinet 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."
}