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{
    "id": 373443,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/373443/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 346,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kobado",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2964,
        "legal_name": "John Owuor Onyango Kobado",
        "slug": "john-owuor-onyango-kobado"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Motion. Before we exhaustively debate this Motion, it is important for hon. Members to understand and appreciate the background and purpose of training levy. Training levy is a mechanism where firms within an industry come together with the express aim of increasing workforce skills via mandatory or voluntary agreement. I am happy that my brother, hon. Njomo, has come up with this Motion. This Motion is very timely, given the fact that 75 per cent of Kenyans are youth; and given the fact that this Motion is targeting the informal sector. This sector has been neglected for a long time. In order for this Motion to make any impact on this nation, there is need for us to look at certain pieces of legislations, which underpin and govern the training levy, as it has been pointed out by hon. Mucai. There is need for us to look at that, so that when we pass this Motion, it will change the lives of Kenyans. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the SMEs sector plays an extremely important role in this country. In 2002, the SMEs sector contributed over 50 per cent of the new jobs that were created in this country. Unfortunately, three out of five SMEs in this country fail within the first six months. So, there is need for us to look at this very critically and see how the sector can be used to grow the economy of this country. There is need for us to look at how skills can be developed because I believe that the first step in empowering an individual is to develop his capacity. Therefore, there is need for us to develop the capacity of the youth in this country, so that when we give them the Kshs6 billion that we intend to inject into the economy, they will be able to use the money to change their lives. It is not only capital that the youth require. They also require capital equipment. They also need to be given skills other than technical skills to enable them manage their businesses well and market their products, so that their products can be competitive. Kenya is flooded with counterfeit products, particular those that originate from China. If you go to the streets of Nairobi today, you will find that they are littered with substandard products. Therefore, if we inject funds into the sector, particularly into the informal sector; a lot can be done to help them improve the standards of their products. There is need for us to formulate the standards of products coming out of this particular sector. In that regard, we can involve the Kenya Bureau of Stands (KEBS) for them to come up with particular standards that the SMEs sector can use, so that the standards of the products manufactured by those in that sector can be improved. That will enable them to be competitive so that we can sell locally and even outside the borders of this country, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, setting products standards will really go a long way in enhancing the level of our productivity. The level of productivity in this country is extremely low. So, with products standards, we will be able to come up with products that can sell competitively. As a Member of the Labour and Social Welfare Committee, I would want this particular Motion brought to us, so that we can look at it. We will look at the Industrial Training Act, 2007, which sets out the purposes and powers of industrial training Boards, with a view to making it effective."
}