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{
    "id": 471109,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/471109/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 246,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Gathecha",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 652,
        "legal_name": "Annah Nyokabi Gathecha",
        "slug": "annah-nyokabi-gathecha"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to speak on this Bill. I rise to support the Motion. When we look at the steel industry in Kenya, Kenya is one of the largest exporters of steel to South Korea. We do not produce steel, but we export it. If we are going to protect our industries - which is very critical for a nation like ours that is growing - to develop a strong economic industry that will create jobs for our youth and the women in this country generally, it is important that we have a strong steel industry. We cannot protect it if we are going to allow cheap imports from other countries. For us to stop destroying our structures to export steel, it behooves us to ensure that we have a balance and we are able to protect our industries and jobs. There is a lot of vandalism in this country. If we are looking to protect our travellers on the highways, it is important that our signage is protected. If you travel along the Thika Highway now, you will find that some major parts of it have been chopped and hived off and sold to people who are not licensed to deal with scrap metal. Because there is a big demand, its price is so high and Kenyans have no recourse against the people who engage in these illegal activities, they wantonly destroy property that the Kenyan taxpayers have invested a lot of money into. We are heavily taxed by this Government to ensure that we deliver services, but when we look at it, on the other side, there are just criminals who are benefiting from the infrastructure that we are paying so heavily for and have even mortgaged our children in order to provide the necessary infrastructure. I support this Bill. I would prefer that tighter and more stringent action is taken against these criminals. No nation can develop without a steel industry. We have discovered that we have oil supplies in this country, but for us to protect it, we must protect our industries. If we look at countries like China, if they were to import steel into this country, we would honestly never be able to develop a steel industry. Looking at the scope and the size of the industries that they work with, they can supply all over Africa The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}