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{
"id": 472478,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/472478/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "July 17, 2014 SENATE DEBATES 22 Sen. Wangari",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this very commendable Bill, knowing that the problem of unemployment, especially to the youth in this country cannot even be exhausted yet. The numbers we are talking about are very scary; they are in their millions and we know that even statistics and demographics show clearly that we are actually a youthful country with more than 60 per cent of our population aged less than 35 years. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have several issues that I want to note in this Bill. First, as a young person myself, I know the hurdles that the young people go through trying to access these procurement opportunities. The history of this amendment started with the former Government when it reserved 10 per cent of tenders to the youth, women and persons living with disabilities. I want to commend the Government by taking very active measures in dealing with this issue. Now putting it in law, it will definitely make it more accessible and easier for these vulnerable groups to access Government tenders. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are several changes that have actually taken place over the last few months in the Government through the Ministry of Devolution, where young people, women and persons living with disabilities are dealt with. We know that the 30 per cent was actually reserved for three groups of people. At the Committee Stage, I will be looking forward to a situation where we can make these amendments to include these three groups in the very specific amendment. Secondly, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the problems that people are facing in this country when they try to access these opportunities are many. However, I will touch on just a few of them. First of all, the scope that is being reserved by Ministries and Government institutions to this group are basically a very lean scope of work. It is restricted to providing stationery, airtime and mineral water. If you go to construction, it is restricted to bush clearing. I hope that with time, we can expand this scope to get the mainstream and the meaningful jobs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, another issue that this group is facing is the issue of prequalification. We know that in the decree where this was pronounced, it was noted that when you have that certificate of Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) from the Treasury, you should be exempt from prequalification. However, not so many people know about that allowance. I was personally trying it in some counties, but I was turned away. I had taken a few people with me and I told them that they should know that with that certificate, they should be exempt from prequalification. I am hoping that this information can also be included in the amendments that we will come up with. I will be moving that amendment at the Committee Stage, so that it is put in law that they be exempted from the prequalification process. This is the only way they can access those opportunities. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other issue is that of bid bonds. When we give this 30 per cent and we still put bid bonds at a very high level where these Kenyan youth, women and persons with disabilities cannot afford, we still leave them at the mercies of the financiers. I am hoping that we can interrogate this law to see whether we can explore 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."
}