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"id": 212062,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/212062/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mghanga",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Office of the President",
"speaker": {
"id": 253,
"legal_name": "Mwandawiro JD Mghanga",
"slug": "mwandawiro-mghanga"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy, Speaker Sir. First of all, I would like to thank hon. Members for their very enthusiastic contributions to this very important Motion. Indeed, it is a noble idea for any Kenyan leader, including myself, to have unemployed Kenyans recruited in the public or private sector. However, I wish to reply. My response details measures under implementation to create employment and solve the unemployment problem on a sustainable basis. My response urges against passing the Motion moved by the hon. Member. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya has a potential to make rapid progress in employment creation and, significantly, deal with unemployment problem without necessarily establishing a special employment programme in which a specific budgetary provision will be made so as to employ at least 250,000 people in the public sector annually, as urged by the Motion. Government policy recognises that economic recovery and growth will come primarily from a stable macro-economic framework and substantial improvements in the productive sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, trade and industry. The objective has been to redefine the role of the public service as a facilitator for private sector driven growth and employment creation. The policy aims to reduce the cost of doing business and impediments to growth in entrepreneurship, raise productivity, institute necessary economic reforms and initiatives, provide an enabling environment for greater public investment and private sector participation in economic development and expand the employment base. The ERS provides a framework for economic growth and outlines policies to be implemented to achieve the employment creation objective. Action programmes under the ERS supports economic growth targets that will facilitate the economy to create 500 million jobs annually. The bulk of those jobs are to be created by the wider private sector, with the public sector providing the necessary enabling environment. To this end, project and programmes have been identified and implemented under the investment programme of ERS. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget, from 2003/2004 Financial Year to date, has focused on achievement of ERS objectives. That is to increase revenue creation and prudence in public financial management. That has made it possible to allocate targeted funds to promote economic activities and empower target groups to engage in gainful employment and, in turn, generate more jobs. Success stories are evident from the Constituencies Development Fund and the operationalisation of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. The Women Enterprise Development Fund will further boost economic activities and empower that 28 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 25, 2007 important target group to unleash employment opportunities. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the recent gains in economic growth have set the stage for an improved and robust economic environment capable of creating employment opportunities for the unemployed and for those entering the labour market annually. There has been satisfactory progress in the employment creation objective under the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS). The Government is consolidating gains from the ERS by developing the Vision 2030. Key among economic activity pillars under Vision 2030, are strategies with great potential for employment creation and to make Kenya a globally competitive economy with an enviable standards of living. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, technological advances and innovations in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) present numerous job opportunities to this country. Implementation of an ICT policy and targeted activities under the e-government initiative will help realise this potential. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the labour market extends beyond our borders. There are job opportunities within the region and internationally for qualified personnel, including nurses, teachers and other cadres. With a strong industrial and manufacturing base, developed financial sector, large international transport hub and the relatively well educated and trained work force, it is possible to create numerous jobs from out-sourcing services. The ongoing regional integration and enhanced participation in the world arena will drive the objective to source employment opportunities both in the region and the world labour market. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the public service cannot accommodate new employees in the magnitude advanced by the Motion. Although every other week, there are many vacancies advertised in the papers and the Government continually assesses the opportunities in the service and fills them as a need of the service arriving. Indeed, this could reintroduce a problem that has bedeviled the service in the past. From 1963 when Kenya attained Independence to the early 1980s,---"
}