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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to discuss this Motion by hon. Ojode. One of the critical issues that the NARC Government promised Kenyans during the elections was that it would introduce affirmative action where 30 per cent of the jobs would be given to women. With regard to issues about the youth, this Government was voted in on the platform that they were going to look into how youths would be employed. The criteria that this Government has used in appointing people to big positions is such that most of the people who were appointed were either brought from retirement, or schooled at Makerere University or played golf in Muthaiga Golf Club. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must critically look at appointments in this country. Kenyans should be appointed on merit. This Government needed to advertise jobs so that we give Kenyans an equal opportunity to get positions in Government. You should not appoint people because they are your buddies or because you drink White Cup with them or you play golf together. It is about time this Parliament critically looked at the issue of employment in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you look at how the private sector is run today, you will realise that it is running the economy of this country. The heads of the various companies in the private sector are under the age of 45 years. They run those institutions effectively and efficiently using today's knowledge. It is so disappointing that, today, even if you look at the way September 12, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3845 the public sector is run, you will realise that it is run on outdated technologies. Many of the people who are still holding public office are living in the 1960s. These people went to school in the 1960s and they are living in the technology of the 1960s. Many of them still call secretaries for purposes of dictation because they do not know how to use computers. In today's world, chief executives write their own letters. It is a wonder that this Government wonders that Government secrets are being leaked out. They are being leaked out because their secretaries are called to type the letter, insert corrections and type it again, and yet it is a confidential letter. All they will do is to take photocopies give them to the Opposition and tell them this is what they are doing. It is very clear. This Government also does not realise that it is no longer in technology that you run public offices behind wooden walls. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is time that this Government realised that it has to inject new ideas into the public sector. This can only be done by creating a criteria where employment is offered through just means and to people who are competent enough to run those institutions. There is a lot of talk about tribalism. When we are offering employment, we should not only look at the issue of whether you are capable or not. We also need to look at the smaller tribes. You will find that somebody who comes from North Eastern Province and has scored a Grade B- and somebody who lives in Nairobi and scores a Grade A, both have equal knowledge. This is because the person from North Eastern Province is disadvantaged. We should have affirmative action that addresses the plight of the smaller tribes. We should not just employ somebody because he is the most competent, but also empower them. I think that is done in many parts of the world. For example, Dubai is a country that is run by many foreigners and yet, they try to empower the smaller indigenous tribes, so that they can feel as part of that country. When we are distributing jobs we should look at the El Molo and say that, although we have other people who are more qualified, this person is also capable of taking that job. Let us give that El Molo person the opportunity to head a parastatal in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we agree that the biggest three communities in Kenya are Kikuyu, Luo and Luhya. We do not have to think that because they will, probably be leaders of this country, the smaller tribes should be left disadvantaged. There are very small tribes in this country that have the capacity and should be given the opportunity to get jobs. If, for example, the head of a parastatal comes from a certain tribe, we should ensure that other organisations are headed by people from other tribes. When the Kenya Human Rights Commission was established, we looked at regions when employing staff. Parliament said that each region should have a representative. We also looked at the gender perspective and youth issue, so that the body shows the face of Kenya. When we do so, we will avoid these problems we are facing. Some of the critical issues that have been brought in have been caused by the Ministers. When a Minister is appointed to head a Ministry, he sacks the Managing Director and appoints somebody from his tribe. When he leaves, that Managing Director is sacked and another one comes in. It has happened in many Ministries in this country. I do not have to mention those Ministries, but it is factual that when a Minister leaves, the new Minister does not feel comfortable working with somebody who is not from his community. I was in a Minister's office where they had a barter trade. A Minister would call a fellow Minister and tell him: \"Give me ten slots in your Ministry.\" Another one would call and say: \" Give me ten slots in your Ministry. I have got some people in my constituency whom I want to put in that Ministry. Give me ten slots; we swop.\" That is how some of these Ministers operate. They cannot deny that is how they operate. We will end up creating an elitist society in this country whereby you cannot move up if you come from a poor family. We have to give all Kenyans an opportunity to get positions at the 3846 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES September 12, 2007 top regardless of whether they come from a rich or poor family. This country is heading to a situation whereby the poor will remain poor and the rich will remain rich. We have to change that in our society. If we do not do that, we will have an elitist society where people will only be getting jobs because of connections. That is where Kenya is heading now. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to support this Motion."
}