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{
    "id": 1588867,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1588867/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 266,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bondo, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gideon Ochanda",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Secondly, Hon. Temporary Speaker, we must discuss unemployment. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) directly relates to labour issues. What is going to happen as AI advances? I would like to provide a small example. I have visited a large high school with eight streams of classes. In comparison to another school in my constituency that employs 98 teachers, this institution manages with only 18 teachers. They achieve this by having one teacher in a small corner of a computer room handle eight classes simultaneously. If we continue down this path, what will happen to the many teachers we are training? This presents a real contradiction. What will become of the thousands of individuals we are preparing for the workforce? This Government has done very well, particularly in terms of recruitment of teachers. We have more than 70,000 teachers currently hired, with thousands still awaiting recruitment. Those in teacher training colleges also number in the thousands. Universities are producing no fewer than 100,000 graduates each year. When I completed my degree, there were only 2,019 graduates across the entire country, and this was not long ago. Now, we are generating over 100,000 graduates annually. Where are they going? Therefore, while we consider the volume of labour we are producing for employment, it is crucial to compare this with the trends in AI. Many individuals have yet to grasp the implications of this, and we could be facing significant challenges. This is why Hon. Kitany raised the issue of awareness. What do we need to prioritise as a government and as a people? Are we prepared to inform our people about these changes instead of allowing them to seek opportunities elsewhere? There is a strong likelihood that they will find themselves without jobs. Why? Because of AI. AI is an inevitable progression, and the world is leaning towards it. Therefore, we risk having a bulk of our workforce stranded, creating another problem. We need to strike a balance. Let us not forget when our people resisted the introduction of tea-picking machines. I wonder how many people recall that period. Eventually, those machines were widely adopted and are functioning effectively. What happened to the workers who were previously employed to handpick tea? They are no longer complaining, but the benefits of automation are to the investors. The cost of labour is one of those production expenses that is incredibly high, particularly in many countries, including ours. Workers often approach their jobs not with the attitude of contributing to a collective benefit, but rather with the singular goal of earning a pay check. Their primary concern is earning at the end of the month, regardless of the nature of their work. As a result, if employers elsewhere recognise they have alternatives to local labour, they are likely to opt for those options. As a nation, we need to tread carefully moving forward. AI is here to stay. Embracing and regulating artificial intelligence (AI) is imperative; if we do not, it will outpace us. Individuals are already experimenting with AI, and some countries are even employing robots to deliver essential services such as blood. Imagine a scenario where places like Lamu and Busia deploy robots without any form of oversight or regulatory framework. It could lead to chaos. I believe this Motion is apt, and the government must take it seriously. Regardless of the practicality of implementing various measures, this serves as a warning that something must be done. Thank you."
}