Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 441647,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/441647/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 359,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. M’uthari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1576,
        "legal_name": "Joseph M'eruaki M'uthari",
        "slug": "joseph-meruaki-muthari"
    },
    "content": "If it is a fact that the Italian Government has not met its commitment in terms of training and personnel, how come we can be marginalized in our own country? In terms of employment, we are told that within the senior managers, we have only two Kenyans while the rest are from Italy. For all these years, they have not been able to build even the capacity of our local scientists and our own people against the earlier agreement. This is a sure reason why we should have change. When those negotiations are done; when we have that agreement, it should be on a 50-50 basis. Given the fact that this Centre is within our country, we should not be taken as a junior partner who has to be given a token so that the whole thing can proceed. So, the fact that the training of our personnel did not take place as it was agreed in the beginning raises serious questions. We have also not benefited from third party agreement payments. The Kenyan people should gain from that. At the end of the day, we should get resources to fund other activities within the country and achieve development. As I said, as a country, we cannot rely on traditions. This is where the importance of science and technology come on board. By utilising science, we can be able to break new ground. We can use information to generate resources which can eventually enable our country to move forward. It has happened before. Even our other technology has been taken over by other countries. At the end of the day, we go running after them. We now have a centre like this one, which does not benefit us. It is like a monument. Kenyans just get a token out of it; when we could be partners. Therefore, as the National Assembly, we should not allow the Government of Kenya to negotiate and sign an agreement before hon. Members agree on its terms. At the end of the day, we ask: “Why does this continue?” I believe there are people who benefit from the chaos. Maybe, instead of the proceeds benefitting the common good, there could be a few people who are benefitting on behalf of other Kenyans. Money changes hands amongst individuals who have been entrusted with those responsibilities. They look the other side and Kenyans end up not getting the full benefits from that facility. It is, therefore, high time that, as Members of this august House, we should stand firm on our feet and refuse to, ever again, allow our resources to be utilised by other people while our people continue to suffer. We also want equality. Let us not have our people employed at the Centre at the level of casuals or mere support staff. Our people should be at the management level. They should have been engaged. Again, even as we talk about independence, you can be independent politically but, economically and technologically, you may not be independent. So, at the end of the day, you are subdued even in your own land. It is for that reason that we should stand up and say that enough is enough. We need our space. We need to have that Centre run by our own. If the Italians are not happy with that position, they should leave. We can manage it. Other people in Africa are doing it. Why can we not do it? Even if it is not being done in Africa, we can do it. With those few comments, I beg to support the Report. Let us have our own space centre."
}