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{
    "id": 532803,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/532803/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 43,
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    "content": "any standards. If the President wants us to grow in the area of ICT, then we must remove in this year’s budget the Value Added Tax (VAT) from all ICT components. Currently, creations are made in this nation and taken to India and the United States of America (USA) for manufacturing. It has become cheaper to manufacture ICT components in those countries as a result of duty on components in this country. So, we are exporting jobs when the ideas are born here; in our own nation. It is my prayer that duty, VAT and other charges on any ICT component are reduced. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the railway that we talk about is something that Kenyans should be proud of. The last railway line was built in this country during the time of the man-eaters of Tsavo. It was during virtually the partitioning of the African Continent. That is how far back we go as far as the construction of a single kilometre of railway is concerned. I am informed that the people who are being compensated during the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) are becoming extremely rich. In fact, there are people who were sworn monogamists who have now become polygamists simply by virtue of the amount of money that goes into their pockets. I am told by my colleagues that they have improved their lives. We hope that they will take advantage to invest that money sensibly and put it in areas that could provide a better living standard for them even after the money is finished because it will not last. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for us to grow, we must also begin to look at areas that are not our traditional sources of tourism. The hon. Sen. Wetangula, Senator for Bungoma County, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as Mr. Tuju, did quite a bit of work in trying to cultivate other markets for Kenya so that tourists could come from elsewhere. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when a Briton stood up one day and decided that by the virtue of the fact that Kenya is giving them problems as far as the renewal of the military base licensing in Nanyuki is concerned, and because we will not agree to a bad deal, that they will issue a travel advisory against the Republic of Kenya---. That is why the work which was done by those who pioneered the cultivation of other sources of tourism should be applauded. The Ministry of East Africa Affairs, Commerce and Tourism should also be pro-active as far as reactions to some of these issues are concerned. In Egypt, whenever a small thing happens, the reaction in the media is quick, swift and effective. This is what we must get to. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a nation where the Queen of England became Queen. This is a nation where the young Prince William, during his wedding, got a gift of some piece of land in Lewa. If I were carrying out an advertising campaign for this nation, I would go on television in Britain and say; this is the nation where the Queen became Queen yet you are being told not to go there. This is the nation where Prince William goes for his holidays; and you say that it is not a safe nation. This is the nation where he proposed to his bride and they got married and yet you say that it is not a safe nation. Britons will not believe it. Therefore, we must not believe that we can take anything on the defence. Ground in war is not taken on the defence, but on the offensive. Therefore, my urge to the people in charge of tourism is that they should ensure that we fight against all the travel advisories. 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."
}