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{
    "id": 416703,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/416703/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 87,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Manje",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1669,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Wathigo Manje",
        "slug": "joseph-wathigo-manje"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me the chance to contribute to this noble Bill by the Chairman of TNA. The proposed amendments seek to give a legal framework to the county governments and the national Government to accommodate the youth, women and people with disabilities in the procurement process. Many of our youths are not employed. When our youth complete education and are not engaged, they get frustrated and indulge in various activities like alcoholism, thuggery and other bad things. By making sure that they get procurement business, we will be mitigating this aspect. Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is good to note that the proposed amendments come after the passage of the Uwezo Fund Regulations yesterday. The Fund will give capital to young men and women, so that they can join business. Generally, the youth have no collateral with which to secure bank loans and start business. However, we have to ensure that affirmative action does not sacrifice the quality of our performance as a country. Most of the youths will not have enough capital to enable them do what is required. Big tenders like construction of roads and others require a lot of capital. As a country, we need capital. Chinese companies are doing better than Kenyan companies in the road construction sector because of the massive resources that the Chinese have. So, we have to look for ways and means of empowering our contractors. There are people who believe that securing Government contracts is a way of enriching themselves. We have to separate proper business from deals that are associated with procurement. Many companies try to secure procurement with the aim of entering into corrupt deals. So, we have to also come up with laws that will safeguard us from that aspect. We should not allow a situation that will rock the boat in terms of the development of this country. If we set aside a good chunk of tenders for the youth and then they lack funds with which to undertake the contracts, this will most likely slow down the development of this country. Hon. Deputy Speaker, it will be awkward if the country develops as envisaged in Vision 2030 without developing our youths. As we think of developing the infrastructure of this country, we should be thinking of how to develop our youth. That is the only way the youth will enjoy the development of this country. With those remarks, I beg to support the Bill."
}