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{
"id": 238471,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/238471/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Kuti",
"speaker_title": "The Minister of State for Youth Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 60,
"legal_name": "Mohammed Abdi Kuti",
"slug": "mohammed-kuti"
},
"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of mass employment of youth especially in re-afforestation, during these short rains we have a pilot scheme in Mau Forest and four other areas designated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and we are going to use about 2,000 youth to plant trees. We are negotiating with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to designate certain areas that need urgent attention where the youth can then be employed. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for specific issues like that one raised by hon. Sambu, I think it will be good if he comes to my office and we will then be able to see how we could work together to incorporate his plans as relates to the seedlings that he has. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, about the age, the Commonwealth defines the youth as those who fall in the bracket of 15 to 30 years. The United Nations (UN) defines the youth as those who fall in the age bracket of 18 to 24 years. There are various definitions of youth. As for our Ministry, we have kept to the Commonwealth definition of those who fall between the age bracket of 15 and 30 years. However, as we table the document, I think maybe the House will ratify it because there is a generalised-like feeling in the community, youth and various partners that maybe 35 years is a more appropriate upper limit. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other issue is about the payment of Kshs7,000 for the summit. This is the third Global Youth Employment Summit and this has been a collaboration between my Ministry and Education Development Centre (EDC) in Boston where we had to arrive at that arrangement that has been going on from the first one in Egypt, the second one in Mexico and the third one is with us. There had to be some contribution from Government, EDC and the youth. I think that while we also talk about poverty, the ability to encourage youth to be independent, self- reliant and participate in things which are not for free, will be a good way to go. However, I appreciate, of course, the level of poverty in the country but I think this was an arrangement between the three partners. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the bursaries issue, as stated earlier, the bursary money in the Ministry of Education, I think, has been put in the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), but the best placed Minister for this question would be the Minister for Finance. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}