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"id": 195309,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/195309/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Chanzu",
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"speaker": {
"id": 11,
"legal_name": "Yusuf Kifuma Chanzu",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to support this important Motion for the purpose of establishing a consumer protection law that will contribute towards protection and improvement of consumer welfare. It will also cater for matters incidental thereto. I want to make a few comments regarding consumer awareness. I think it is an 764 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 30, 2008 important Bill. However, I would like us to look at the responsibilities of both the manufacturer or the trader and the consumer. I have witnessed some very interesting incidents. For instance, I saw a passenger boarding a matatu knowing very well that the matatu was full capacity. This passenger insisted on squeezing himself into the matatu . Right now, we are having problems of congestion of vehicles on the roads. This is because commuters insist on being dropped at specific points instead of encouraging the idea of being dropped at bus stops. That causes a lot of problems. Although the law says that the consumer must be aware, I think it is important that both sides should adhere to the law that we are going to put in place. The law should not just favour the consumer alone. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, recently, I was reading an article where the Chinese Ambassador said that Kenyans are the ones who go to buy substandard items or goods from China. We buy them since we want to cut down on costs. The moment we are true to ourselves, we will control this situation. The consumer can also control this situation. It is not a must that you buy any garbage that is available because you want to buy cheap stuff. We have encouraged ourselves, as consumers, to buy mitumba . A person may prefer to go buy a shirt for Kshs100 yet, he does not look at the time it takes for it to wear out. A shirt that you buy for Kshs200 may only last you six months. However, if you strain yourself a bit and save some little money that can buy a shirt for Kshs1,000 or Kshs2,000, may take you two years. I look at it as an issue where the consumer has also to be disciplined. When it comes to maintenance and upholding of standards, I want to support the view that KEBS has been around for many years. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the KEBS has not been given enough limelight to perform its roles. For example, when considering the issue raised by the Ambassador of China about the Kenyan consumers, I think we need to enhance the inspection of goods coming into our country. It will be upon the Ministry of Trade to ensure that the KEBS fulfils its mandate. Otherwise, there is no point of having a public organization where people earn huge salaries and drive expensive vehicles at the expense of playing its rightful role in the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should have regular publication of materials and literature on what is coming into the market. I have seen an article here, which somebody is circulating, which concerns banking. I think that is an important document. The information may not be accurate, but it creates awareness in the minds of the people, that we can go to different banks. I see in places like the United Kingdom (UK) and America where every time there are publications showing what is coming up and that gives the consumers an opportunity to compare the quality of the items before they can purchase them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Jua Kali sector was a noble idea by the Government. However, there is more that needs to be done. We need to raise the standards. There must be somebody to look at them. I remember when we were in schools we were buying paper boxes. It was safe in school at that time. We did not have the type of sophistication we have today. The Jua Kali boxes from Landhies Road are today being used by students. We need to have some kind of standards, so that we can use them because they are cheaper than what we are importing. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}