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"id": 189906,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Ngugi",
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"speaker": {
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"legal_name": "David Mwaniki Ngugi",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have lost two and a half minutes on that point of order, and I take it that you will increase my time by that amount of time. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one area that this Ministry should put more resources and efforts into is polytechnics. I have always felt that the education policy in this country is misdirected. We only go by historical perspectives, and what the colonialists left with us, that is theory-based education. We do not look at the market requirements in relation to our schools. Now, this is the Ministry that could offer a paradigm shift. It has already done so by supporting polytechnics. It is not only in this country, but also elsewhere in the world, where the only people who get jobs outside the country are those with skills. Skills- oriented education is what guarantees you a job. I am happy to note that the Kenya Polytechnic and Mombasa Polytechnic have been upgraded to college universities status. The village polytechnics will now channel the youth to those polytechnics, so that we can have people in the future who can be inventors. They will be able to make aircraft and invent other machines. They will save this country enormous amounts of money that we use to import useless things, that, otherwise, would have been made here. So, I want to appeal that the issue of polytechnics be really high on the agenda. For example, in Kinangop Constituency, we have only three village polytechnics which are really struggling. I have eight locations. In my vision for Kinangop, I want to establish a village polytechnic for each location, so that we can have, at least, eight village polytechnics. I hope this Ministry will support this because that is the only way to guarantee that the so-called youth do not drop out of school at Standard Seven or Form Four levels, and become a menace to the rest of the society. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are youth empowerment centres that will be set 1776 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 10, 2008 up. Hon. Wathika said that his is already in operation. I would suggest that these youth empowerment centres be spread all over the country. If possible, away from the urban centres. This is the only way to keep the youth away from coming to towns. If we were able to develop the rural areas and other parts of the country, the youth can fend for themselves and develop those areas to be productive. We should avoid this idea of locating everything in towns. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am happy to note that, at least, Kshs1 million will go to each constituency for sports development. However, Kshs1 million is little money. I believe sports are not only soccer and athletics. We have other sports, for example, golf. We must liberate ourselves and our minds. Golf is a sport I love. I have played it for 17 years. Golf is a sport that those who know its value are making millions out there. But in this country, many people think that golf is a sport only for the rich. It is not! Even caddies who do not have a lot money, have the ability to play this game. We should encourage the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs and Sports to encourage any youth with any sporting talent, whether it is yatching, golf, boxing, mountaineering or whatever talent they have, to develop them. They can go outside this country and make money and remit it to this country, help themselves and their families and develop this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in a nutshell, this Ministry should broaden its vision. It should not be inward looking. It should not be held captive by the crime rate that is in this country. It should even approach that from a very comprehensive perspective. This is the Ministry that will either destroy or build this country. That is why I say that this Ministry ought to be supported and given more allocation than it has. I beg to support."
}