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{
"id": 1564725,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1564725/?format=api",
"text_counter": 104,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development",
"speaker": null,
"content": "that are there overseas is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. As soon as they identify those particular people, they just forward a list with the necessary documents to prove that these people actually have got a job overseas and they have the necessary documentation to travel, and that they have letters of appointment, then we facilitate them. So far we have facilitated 268. To know where they have gone, if they have not gone, that is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. My role is just to get a list with the necessary documents from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, facilitate the financing and my responsibility ends there. To know who went, who never went or where they are going, that information can be availed from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. On the issue of NYOTA and KJET, this is a very important initiative that you, as Members of Parliament, should be aware of. It is a joint initiative with the Kenyan Government and the World Bank that involves about Kshs33 billion. Already, the sensitization programme is going on. Unfortunately, with the Members of the National Assembly. Since the selection of the beneficiaries is based on wards, they thought that Members of Parliament would be the best ones with the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs). These people are sensitized to apply on phone since it is a digital application process. Unfortunately, the Senate has not been properly included. I commit myself that you are Members of Parliament, and so, you must be aware of what is happening. I also commit myself that given the opportunity, because this is a very important initiative, I am ready to come and sensitize you or take you through the programme. On the issues raised by my Secretary General, Sen. Sifuna, I know we were in the same boat that time, but I never heard of this money being a grant. That was the truth. I was only in the same boat when we were saying that this money should not be paid. Now I am in a different boat. I am now saying that Kenyans who have borrowed this money should pay because I feel that this money is a good initiative that will help many Kenyans. Unfortunately, when such initiatives come up after an election, members of the public think that they are being rewarded, which is why we had so many defaulters when the Fund started. Let me assure Senate that we are working on a system where we will ensure that this amount is recovered, so that more Kenyans benefit from this money. Please, note that out of the 20 million Kenyans that started borrowing from this Fund, two million of them have proved to be good borrowers. For these good borrowers, we have introduced a bridging loan. These are the people who have been given a better limit, for them to borrow up to Kshs150,000. Out of the 20 million, two million have been promoted to what we call a bridging loan. This Fund is working very well and helping many Kenyans despite the initial problems we had. On the Hustler Fund helping cooperatives, it is a different product. We use a digital platform to access through one’s phone without interacting with any individual. So, it will be difficult to take that fund and divert it to cooperatives. However, in the Cooperatives Bill, 2024 that is before the Senate, there is a provision of creating a The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}