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"id": 180621,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Kabando wa Kabando",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports",
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"content": " Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion, which is very timely and well considered. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, having the opportunity, as a House, to control our own calender and ensuring that we prioritise the agenda of the House--- That agenda should be in the control of the representatives of the people. That is very important. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, before I proceed, perhaps, I should take this opportunity, as the Member of Parliament for Mukurweini, to congratulate the President-elect, Obama. Indeed, even though the Chair did made that ruling, it is important to notice that this matter is of serious importance. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, one of the issues that is crucial to the development of a nation is the confidence among the people. It is the inspiration among the people. It is the spirit of optimism to go forward. We have to appreciate that, as a House, we are very encouraged by what has happened in the USA. The country is very excited. That is very important. It is a way of giving encouragement. Therefore, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I contribute to support this Motion, let me say that towards achieving Vision 2030, we need the flagship that has been documented to be stated clearly in the agenda of the supreme organ of law making and policy state in this country. The Vision 2030 flagship include areas of enterprise that hedge on new creativity. For instance, it has flagships on the youth issues; the issues of agriculture and for reasons, the pending Government agenda, including the Coffee Bill that will ensure that we have global instruments and benchmarks that are necessary to ensure that, that cash crop is marketed, its production well managed and that leadership in Africa is good. That also relates to all other sectors in the agricultural sector. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the livestock policy is pending in this House. Again, we should look at areas that will create a wider path to ensure that investments that traditionally did not bring a lot of benefits to the people, do bring unprecedented benefits. We have pending business on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT); the Bill that seeks to entrench ICT as a platform for change and development. In this country, we know that tourism is a key sector that brings in foreign exchange and creates employment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Tourism Bill is pending in this House. That Bill is aimed to promote the tourism policy to ensure that the sector is professionally managed, realizes multiplied benefits and that the nation itself benefits more fundamentally from that sector. Therefore, to have the opportunity, as a House, to control our calendar will be a basic responsibility. It is basic because this House has a strategic plan. Hon. Members are required, at the constituency level, to have strategic plans; to have an arrangement on how they will engage stakeholders, their voters and 3282 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 5, 2008 their development committees all the way to the sub-locations. Those strategic plans will require work plans, quarterly reviews, evaluations and monitoring mechanisms. If those efforts have to succeed, the House itself should have an overrall plan. That plan will not be possible if we do not have the control, the capacity and the independence to direct, audit and to prioritise the agenda that we need to put in this House. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as legislators, we do need to also set our diaries to ensure that, annually, we know what is going to come, rather than the sporadic entries of important issues that may disrupt our engagements with our constituents and also, for some hon. Members, their engagements with their Ministerial responsibilities. The Committees of this House need to go out and connect. Therefore, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion because it is based on a special and basic need; that this House needs the independence and discretion that will enable it to enact laws that are the foundation to ensure that the flagships of Vision 2030, which include women issues, diversification of resource generation, mainstreaming of the youth and the young people in the management and leadership of this country are concerned. That is very important. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, although you have ruled, I want to touch on what has happened in the USA. I want to repeat that as I conclude. Kenyans need inspiration and optimism today more than ever before. Any opportunity, may it be local, domestic or international, that can accelerate or instigate that optimism--- Any opportunity and occurence that may be happening outside this country that will challenge this nation and hon. Members on their commitment and belief to issues of nationalism is very important!' Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is Martin Luther King who said:- \"Changes in the world are not brought by the complacent adjustment of a conforming majority, but by the couragious mal- adjustments of the non-conforming minority.\""
}