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{
    "id": 386237,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/386237/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 66,
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    "content": "service to the issue of unemployment. I want to support Sen. Lesuuda that the youth have been taken for granted. We believe that the new administration having admitted that unemployment is very high, that is, at the rate of 70 per cent, will come up with proper policies to ensure that we create employment for our youth. The whole idea of a special fund for the youth and women is good, but we must streamline how this particular fund will be administered. So, let us walk the talk on the issue of providing youth with employment in this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in his Speech, the President came up with his legislative agenda for this particular session. If I remember very well, he said that priority number one in his legislative agenda is to ensure full implementation of the Constitution. I want to share with you that one of the reasons Kenyans overwhelmingly endorsed the new Constitution or the dispensation that we are in now, is the whole idea of devolution. In devolution, Kenyans saw a chance of getting fair and equitable distribution of our resources. This particular Senate has been established under the Constitution to protect devolution. That is how much we value devolution. Therefore, I was glad and very pleased to hear the President say that devolution is not an option, but a duty for us to make sure it works. So, we want him also to walk the talk. As a Senate, we vow that we are going to help him ensure that devolution works. The beginning point is the idea of county commissioners. I know my colleagues have spoken about it here. I do not see the need for county commissioners if we want our devolution system to work. Let us empower the Governors. Let them exercise the powers that have been allocated to them by wananchi through the ballot. I do not want to belabour this point because Sen. Wako dwelt on it extensively and said all that I had to say on this particular point. As a Senate, we have to ensure that devolution in this country works. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the second last point I want to talk about is the issue of insecurity. I sat here yesterday afternoon and listened to Sen. Leshore contribute to this Motion. He narrated the ordeals that he went through together with Hon. Shidiye from the National Assembly. The rate of insecurity in our country is alarming. Something must be done very urgently to curb the senseless killings that we are witnessing in Garissa, the muggings that we are witnessing in Nairobi and the cattle-rustling that we are witnessing in several parts of the country. Increasing the number of police officers is a solution, but we should go beyond that and make sure that we equip them very well and give them better working conditions to ensure that they discharge their responsibilities in a better way than they do. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will end with the most talked about topic; that is, the issue of laptops. It is a good idea. I want to agree with you that it is good to face new challenges, but I have some reservations. The reason for coming up with this particular policy is to make our children Information Communication Technology (ICT) literate. However, there are many ways we can do this. Buying a laptop for every pupil is a tall order. I think it is will eat so much into our Budget. I think we should get our priorities right. For example, we can establish a computer lab in every primary school and buy them 40 or 50 computers and we will achieve the same results. We will have these children share the computers in the computer lab other than buying each and every child a laptop. I do not think this is tenable. We have other priorities and there is no point The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}