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{
"id": 227278,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/227278/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Syongo",
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"id": 316,
"legal_name": "Zaddock Madiri Syong'oh",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, I want to thank you for giving me this chance to make my humble contribution on this Report. The Report that is before us is an extremely important one for a number of reasons. First, the participation of hon. Members in this process; negotiations with the EU on behalf of Kenya, 478 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 10, 2007 being a part of the ACP-EU countries, gives the political leaders and Parliament the very rare opportunity to be a participant in the economic partnership agreements between ACP-EU countries. Without the participation of Parliament through this delegation, which was ably led by hon. Kamotho, politicians' participation and the capacity to influence the outcome of these negotiations would be seriously limited. After the WTO, the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU is simply the second-most important trade and investment agreement. The EU happens to be our biggest trading partner, just as it has been elaborated by my colleague, hon. Wambora. So, it is very important that every forum that gives us an opportunity to address some of our predicaments as trading partners with EU from a position of weakness, which is a reality, should be taken seriously. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with our limited resources, more often than not, our delegations to the EPAs negotiations with the EU are extremely small. In some cases, even when the EU delegations are over 200 or 300, you find that Kenya's delegation at the technical level, is less than 5, to the extent that we are overwhelmed and we cannot, therefore, sit in the various committees and sub-committees prior to issues being brought to the plenary. As a result, we always come out of these negotiations completely defeated and all our issues are hardly looked at and, at the end of the day, the EPAs favour the EU. So, if Parliament, which is the Legislative arm of the Government, can also use this opportunity to influence the content or direction of negotiations with the EU, it will be a most important thing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am disappointed that even as we discuss this important Report, not a single representative of the key economic Ministries of Trade and Industry, Planning and National Development, Tourism, Agriculture, and Livestock and Fisheries is represented in this House. Even the Minister for Finance, who, of course, should have a very keen interest on what we are talking about--- I hope that he has read this Report. At least his technocrats have read it."
}