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{
"id": 190279,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/190279/?format=api",
"text_counter": 141,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Prof. Ongeri",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Education",
"speaker": {
"id": 124,
"legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
"slug": "samson-ongeri"
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"content": " Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, this is a very serious debate, because we talking about the youth of this nation who constitute more than 67 per cent of our population. Most of us came to this Parliament because the youth had an expectation that we would be able to generate activities and programmes that would address and redress their problems. By today you will have noted that in moving this Vote, the Minister is asking for a total of Kshs4,031,669,000 against the last provision in the Budget of Kshs3,213,934, giving a net increase of Kshs817,134,700. It would have been a good idea if resources were available and were directed towards the youth activities. There are three major areas in which this Ministry will be spending its resources in trying to address the problems of the youth. One is the question of training and upgrading the youth polytechnics and providing schemes that will enable our youths to be self-propelling in every respect. Self-employment is an important activity in this country, because given the momentum with which the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing at the moment, it is not physically possible to absorb all our youth in the employment sector. Therefore, we need to regenerate and activate the activities that will help our youth to be able engage in self employment activities. The second area that this Ministry addresses, and which the resources will be spread out to in order to maximise the benefits to the youth, is the National Youth Service (NYS). As you are aware, this has become a very important avenue for training our youth to be disciplined in the national business; it is also an areas where the youth can acquire very useful skills that can stand them in good stead once they have finished their training. In fact, in the last Budget Speech, and during the State Opening of Parliament, the President indicated that we would be amending the necessary Acts on the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence in order to provide a window of opportunity for the well-trained NYS recruits to be absorbed into the armed forces of this country. So, we have every responsibility to the youth and should ensure that we channel interests to areas where they can gain to the maximum. The third thing that this Ministry will be critically addressing is sports. As you all know, I had the privilege of being the Chairman of the Kenya Amateur Athletics Association (3As) for over 15 years. One of the things that athletics has done for this country is to elevate its esteem. We July 9, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1745 are now known internationally. You do not have to talk about anything else when you to another country; you only need to say that you are from Kenya and people there will say that, that is a country of great runners. Our athletes have not only shown their prowess, they have also put us on the map internationally. Also, the athletes have been a source of very hefty earnings that support this country. Therefore, it is my expectation that once the Ministry is settled, it will equally enter, with equal force, in enhancing the status of football in this country. We have now seen some glimpses of hope that the football fraternity will be enjoying the game of football, because it has a great potential. Another game is basketball. From Mombasa, all the nine best students who excelled in basketball are now the biggest players in one college in the United States of America (USA). They earn a lot of money for that college and for themselves. Indeed, if we are seeking to engage our youth in gainful employment, then certainly the co-curriculum activities form a major a avenue through which we can train our youth to take up their interests and earn for the nation and for themselves the valuable foreign exchange. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, regarding the youth polytechnics, there is one good thing, namely giving skills to our youth, whether in masonry, carpentry or electronics. There is one area to which hon. Members will have to direct their attention. This is because this nation intends to reduce the digital divide that exists between the developed countries and our developing nations. We are now introducing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in our institutions of learning. We do not expect to introduce ICT in institutions of learning and end it there. It is my expectation that in the future, once the youth come out of school, and are not able to proceed vertically with academic learning, or in tertiary institutions, they will be able to engage in employment within the digital village centres, and be able to understand, appreciate and handle technology at the village level. Electricity is already going there. There is a lot of rural electrification and, therefore, we shall need a lot of artisan electricians to be able to do the normal maintenance of these services. Secondly, because the world has gone the digital way, it is important that our youth are gainfully employed in the digital centres, so that they can provide the goods and services that are so critical for the development of this nation. In fact, looking at it and appreciating what it is, we are training our youth to be self-reliant. This issue of hanging on the roadside should be history. In this nation, we have provided avenues through which they can address their problems. The infrastructure and education development, higher education attainment and value addition for our own agricultural products will require people with skills. Therefore, the Ministry of Youth Affairs then stands at a very pivotal level in which they can advance the agenda of youth development in this nation. It is my belief that the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and the Women Enterprise Development Fund will be properly organized through the microfinance and other financial institutions and make it more user-friendly. I have noticed that some youths are scared of taking a loan because they do not know how to apply for it. I am delighted to hear from the Minister herself that, indeed, the entrepreneurship culture must be the way forward. They may have the skills, but they may not have the entrepreneurship culture in order to be able to advance their cause one iota forward. Therefore, it is my expectation that given this momentum that we have now set in this Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, both training and entrepreneurship will be part and parcel of the story; that we would now be able energize our youth for gainful and, most important, support in the building of this nation. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, with those few remarks, I beg to second. 1746 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 9, 2008"
}