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{
    "id": 238036,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/238036/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Syongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 316,
        "legal_name": "Zaddock Madiri Syong'oh",
        "slug": "zaddock-syongoh"
    },
    "content": "The chaos is very clear; you see the fights between the police, city council askaris and the hawkers, who are simply trying to take advantage of the existing economic opportunities to create jobs for themselves and provide for their families. But the right environment has not been created for them because there is no single authority which is responsible for all these activities. Then we have a problem of competition and conflict between the Department of Internal Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the local authorities. At one time, the Government decided by a Government fiat to remove the trade licensing function from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and gave it to the local authorities. I wonder what is the role of the Department of Internal Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. It has got enormous responsibilities, but it is not performing because of the lack of a co-ordinated policy regarding domestic or internal trade. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, once the proposed Bill is enacted, we will also provide for a statutory recognition of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry as an umbrella member of the organisation of those involved in the trade sector; activity-related trade, buying merchandise from primary producers, transporting and selling it to both industrial and final consumers. In the process, opportunities will be created for transporters and warehousing. All these people have got active members who have invested in these activities. However, they have an 3112 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 25, 2006 umbrella organisation which is not recognized in law. So, one of the purposes of this particular intended Bill is to give statutory recognition to the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and assign it statutory functions, in consultation with its members and other stakeholders. Already, this umbrella organisation is responsible for issuing certificates of origin, which is a mandatory requirement for any commodity to be exported from this country, or imported from another country. But that is a function given to it without any legal framework. Once the proposed Bill is passed in this House, this umbrella organisation will have a statutory function and specific responsibilities. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion also intends to provide for the establishment of a joint trade advisory board. This will be an all-stakeholders consultative forum in terms of policy formulation, performance review of the trade sector, and overall improvement of our performance as a trading nation. The joint trade advisory board will also have the capacity and opportunity for conflict resolution. This is because we are bound to have a conflict between the various stakeholders in a sector as big as the distributive trade. So, one of the purposes of the proposed Bill is to actually create a joint trade advisory board. All major trading nations must have such an advisory board to advise the Government on conflict resolution and ensure that policies are formulated in a way that is transparent and all-inclusive. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if this Bill is introduced and this House gives its blessings to it, we will completely transform the economy of this country in a very substantive and comprehensive manner. The issue of hawkers wishing to do business being beaten by policemen and City Council askaris, instead of being facilitated, will be a thing of the past. We can foresee the establishment and growth of business parks in an orderly manner; properly done so that consumers or buyers can have access to the shops, and the sellers be accessed easily by both external and internal consumers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to move and ask Mr. Oparanya to second the Motion."
}