{"id":496635,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/496635/?format=json","text_counter":142,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Nyamweya","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":391,"legal_name":"Manson Oyongo Nyamweya","slug":"manson-nyamweya"},"content":"use the buses to travel as they trade and you will understand the situation. These people have to be checked at the border points and also pay money to the customs officers. If we adopt a common currency then all those barriers will be removed. By having one common currency we shall save in terms of foreign exchange. At the moment, as we export and import things from Uganda, the Kenyan Shilling is converted to the dollar. If we have a monetary union, we shall trade using one common currency. If you look at the trade portfolio of Kenya and Tanzania--- From our business with Uganda, we get 40 per cent of our FOREX. Overall, there will be a saving in FOREX and our currency will be stronger compared to foreign currencies. If you go to Tanzania you will get M-Pesa. If you go to Uganda, you can also use M-Pesa. Already they have moved a step; they have already created a union. So, it is the issue of technocrats to--- I thank this Committee because it has taken a very short time to come up with this report. The Cabinet met in July of this year after more than one year of waiting. The issues were then submitted to the House here. Members have taken a lot of time to scrutinize this matter. They have got views and are now presenting this document for adoption by the House. The main thing here is to improve our wellbeing. If we support the formation of a monetary union, our lives will be better. People will move freely with their products and labour will also move. Sometimes people have fears that Kenyan laws will become Tanzanian laws. That will not be the case. What we are saying is that Tanzania should maintain their law regarding land, but they should allow free movement of anybody who wants to farm and stay there. If Tanzanians want to come and work here, that will be so. Already there are a lot of intermarriages between Kenyans and Tanzanians and Kenyans and Ugandans. So, there is free movement of human beings. Hon. Members, let us support the establishment of one union and one currency. Finally, we may have one political union based on the mutual benefits to all of us. The most important thing we must ask ourselves is: What are the benefits for our people? If Rwanda wants a union and yet we are saying that Rwanda is weak, let us ask ourselves why they want it. I believe it is because they want to grow and expand their economy. Uganda wants a union because of the same reason. It should be the same reason for us. So, it will be beneficial to all of us to support the Heads of State who have given consent – they have agreed to the formation of a union. It is now upon the technocrats to work hard and move fast so that these issues we are discussing now are passed as soon as possible. They should not be delaying. I have just checked in the Report here and I see that the Summit met on 30th June, 2013 while the Cabinet met in July, 2013. With those few remarks, I beg to support."}