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{
    "id": 393804,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/393804/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 215,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "October 10, 2013 SENATE DEBATES 41 Sen. Obure",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I hope I can be able to make a contribution. I have been suffering from some flu but I hope I will be able to make a contribution to this very important Motion. The textile industry, like has been pointed out by Sen. Kajwang, has always been the first in the race towards industrialization. We have seen this in other countries. Again, it provides a base for other industries to start flourishing because of the various linkages it creates. During the 1960s, the 1970s up to the late 1980s, the textile industry here was flourishing. It was doing extremely well. It was thriving in every sense. We had Kicomi, RIVATEX and Raymond in Eldoret, Thika Textile Mills and very many others in Nakuru, Nairobi and Mombasa. All these made a huge contribution to the economy of this country. These industries provided a ready market for cotton and then farmers who were engaged in cotton production received incomes and through those incomes, they supported their families and in so doing also supported the economy to grow. These industries employed very many people. Many of these people received training and acquired skills. These are the people who positively contributed to the growth of the economy. All these industries collapsed because of competition from imports which were subsidized and also from unfair competition. Also, our policies did not protect them. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, what we now need is a revival in the spirit of this Motion. We want to see a revival of these industries in order to support our economy to grow even further. In doing so, we need a change of attitude. Kenyans must change their attitudes. We must have confidence in our own abilities. We must discard self-interests where people want to get rich too quickly. We should discard that element and promote patriotism and nationalism to be able to revive these industries. Today, we are importing what is locally available. For some reason because of our attitudes, we believe that what comes from elsewhere is superior to what is available locally. I think this is why we must first change our attitude and support the local industry because that is the only way forward. In the absence of that, the options are very hard. We lose job opportunities and encourage poverty among our people. I welcome the spirit of this very important Motion. We should try and encourage the establishment of industries in this country. We should think of those industries which use locally available materials. I am talking about industries which process, for example, bananas and leather. Leather is available in plenty. Even in your own county, Mr. Temporary Speaker, I know you used to produce quality cotton. Now that is no longer possible because of the shutdown of the textile industries. We need industries that will add value to the local products. That is what we must encourage in order to meaningfully engage our people. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Motion is calling upon us, as the Senate, to urge Government to formulate policies which will encourage consumption of locally produced clothes and so on. The Government today is the largest consumer or trading partner. We spend large amounts of money but it is a shame that even the Government, which should be setting a good example, is the one that will go out there to buy uniforms for the armed forces, the police and others. If I had a way to meet Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo, I would have suggested to him that we do not just urge the Government but we should compel the 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."
}