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{
    "id": 1559942,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559942/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 933,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I am a member of the Committee and I support this Paper. I agree with our Chairperson that we have no choice but to look forward as a country. In Kenya, we have no choice but to look forward to a rapidly changing world. It would only require a stranger in the world not to know that things are happening very fast globally. If you see what is going on in the United States of America, it is only countries that are strategic that are likely to survive economically. Kenya must also reform its foreign policy to conform with what is going on in the USA. In conforming with what is going on in the USA, we must place Kenyans first. We know many Kenyans have preferred the United States of America as a strategic destination for both tourism and education. However, given that there are challenges now in that direction, we must put Kenyans first. President Donald Trump is putting America first. Kenya must put Kenyans first. That will not mean that if we discover new frontiers, we will be ignoring the USA. If you have a friend who maybe… If I may give an example, as a woman, if you have a boyfriend that you love and you see him courting another girl and starting to look elsewhere, you do not bury your head in the sand. You start looking for options so that if he bolts, you have choices. So, Kenya should open its eyes. We have just come from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where we were a form of tourism attraction in that place. Most Uzbekistans have never seen black people. We were being stopped for photos. As a leader, I looked at the strategic things that Kenya can get from that country. Uzbekistan has international schools that are teaching English. That is an opportunity that we can exploit by taking our teachers there to teach English. There is an opportunity there for trade in that country. It is a virgin area that Kenya can consider. We cannot put all our eggs in one basket. So, Kenya must actually look forward. We cannot look East or West. We have no choice but to look forward. The other issue is that, as a country, we must be consistent. We are very good at coming up with very good legislations and policies. For them to be sellable, we must be convinced about what we pass as a nation, be it laws or policies. We must own and practice them. We must walk the talk. If Kenya says it is looking forward, then we should look forward. We should not look confused. As a country, we should see what works for us and put the interests of Kenyans first. The other issue that I want to say is that Kenya must also undertake a strategic review. Maybe, we did it when we were coming up with this policy. We are stuck many years back. When you hear Kenyans speaking, they keep talking about being the greatest economic hub. However, have they been to Ethiopia of late? When were they last in Arusha and Rwanda? While we sleep, our neighbours are rising. Kenya must place itself strategically economically, knowing that this is just like any business venture."
}