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"id": 235646,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Lesrima",
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"speaker": {
"id": 178,
"legal_name": "Simon Saimanga Lesirma",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to begin by congratulating hon. Dr. Julia Ojiambo for seeking leave to introduce the Community Social Enterprise Bill which encourages investment and promotes enterprises, particularly of vulnerable women groups. It is also very clear that, in this country, we have an inequitable legal framework. I could, in fact, venture to say that there is lack of a legal framework. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as you are aware today what these vulnerable groups have in place are things like merry-go-rounds in urban centres. In rural areas, it is often the Member of Parliament who acts as a financial institution by providing direct cash transfers to various women groups. Most of them do not even have bank accounts, but they struggle to organise themselves to look for some kind of livelihood. The other facility that has been in place are the Harambees . Leaders were quite often called to do Harambees to raise money for women groups. At one time, a lot of money was raised, but was stolen or misappropriated by some women leaders and hence the need for a legal framework. I know that somebody will say that we will bring the Microfinance Bill. As of now, I am not very sure whether the Microfinance Bill will take care of those issues. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other source of finance for these vulnerable groups has been small grants by the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services which do not make any significant impact to the economic position of women in rural areas. We are aware that there have been other facilities that have been introduced one of which is the Kenya Women Finance Trust. Again, this organisation does not really reach the rural vulnerable women, or even those in urban centres or semi-elitist women. It is normally an arduous task between application and getting the loans. The same applies to other smaller microfinance organisations, like Faulu Kenya and Kenya-Rep Bank. There was also an attempt to have a Poverty Eradication Commission which was introduced by the previous regime in 1999 and wound up by the current regime in November, 2003. These were revolving funds totalling to about Kshs200 million. My constituency received the final tranche in 2003. This revolving fund was managed by NGOs through the Provincial Administration but sub-contracted to NGOs. They worked extremely well by giving small loans to women. It is always the men who are at the forefront of taking advantage in terms of the formation of CBOs because the DC is always a man and the NGOs are also run by men. When the CDF was introduced some of us had a lot of ideas regarding income-generating activities for women. Sadly, it turned out that it was not possible to utilise CDF resources to loan to women groups or even give them grants to conduct such activities, like small enterprises and dairy activities because the law that we passed in this House does not allow for any business enterprises. One or two hon. Members managed to go around it and I am told that some hon. Members have been able to buy lorries for their groups and cattle for dairy production. In one constituency, an hon. Member succeeded in putting in place a tractor hire service. Very often the CDF does not offer a lot of opportunity. We have women representation in this 15-member committee of CDF. The expectation of rural women out there is that the CDF should be able to support them. The best 3480 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 8, 2006 some of us have done is to set up kiosks. In my constituency we have put up market stalls in an urban centre for the women to operate from. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have had discussions about the Youth Enterprise Fund. When you hear about the Youth Enterprise Fund, the impression you get is that of young men. You are aware of the difficulties the Minister is going through in putting a framework in place to operationalise this Fund. I get the impression that the Youth Enterprise Fund will be an elitist fund targeting educated people who are well placed to manage businesses. I do not see it reaching young ladies out there in the north and pastoralist areas. We also had the trade loans facilities, which have been abolished. These were not very effective. The Community Social Enterprise Bill, which will set up community development ventures at the district level, really comes at an appropriate moment in Kenya. Our rural women play a major role in society. Very often they are the providers of food and school fees. In certain pastoralist areas they are the builders of homes. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when you talk about Jua Kali what comes to mind is those men in the Jua Kali sector hitting karais and preparing vehicles. I think this institution will recognise the contribution women make in the Jua Kali sector. It is also important to note that there is lack of financial infrastructure out there. In the area where I come from, there is only one bank, that is the Kenya Commercial Bank, covering an area of 21,000 square kilometres. There are no other facilities in terms of financial infrastructure. This Bill provides an opportunity for setting up that kind of infrastructure. This Bill also proposes business training. There is lack of business training in the rural areas. The ASAL women are the most vulnerable when it comes to economic development. There are opportunities out there for value addition to the livestock industry that exists in the ASAL areas. Where we have small slaughterhouse facilities, we should encourage enterprises such as hides and skins to enable women obtain leather products for making additional goods and trinkets. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the ASAL areas, we have natural resources-based products such as honey, minerals and medicinal plants. We have the Aloe plant which is used to make cosmetics. It would be encouraging to see businesses being developed along those lines. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}