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{
    "id": 585096,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/585096/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 81,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Omulele",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2145,
        "legal_name": "Christopher Omulele",
        "slug": "christopher-omulele"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me an opportunity to stand up and support this good Bill. Looking at the contributions and the sentiments that are coming out from the different sectors that are interested in this proposed legislation, you notice that we stand on the horns of a dilemma because we have on one side the Engineers Act which is in place today and which has supposedly been regulating matters in this industry. Unfortunately, the Engineering Act, as it is today, only recognises three types of engineers and these are the traditional ones, that is, the mechanical, chemical, electrical and the civil engineers. Today we have people who have spent a lot of time studying technology and the world has really moved. We recognise that the world today is a technology-driven world. We have these people who are actually driving all these new innovations in the building, construction and in the general engineering field. Today, in this country, and I speak from a point of knowledge, we have over 600,000 technologists who have no way of recognition and regulation yet these are people who are trained up to university level. Some of them are professors and they are very eloquent in the area that they have specialised in. I want to stand here and congratulate my sister for coming up with this proposed Bill. It might not be perfect but I think it is our duty as a House to polish it so that we can give these children of this country who have trained in these very innovative ways of taking our country forward recognition and a way to earn their daily bread. I support this Bill. I know the engineers are falling back on the provisions and the stipulations of the old Engineers Act. That Act has no provision for these people who are necessary for them to practise the engineering profession as they propose to. These technologists and technicians are totally necessary for them to do this. The engineers in their submissions have said that even as they practise, the internationally recognised ratio is that one engineer requires to be assisted by two engineering technologists, four technicians and 16 artisans. Then, you find that these two engineering technologists, four technicians and 16 artisans have no recognition at all in law and there is no way to regulate these people. So, this proposed Bill is clear indication that we need this law like yesterday and not today. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I know there will be submissions to the contrary that the world does not recognise these kinds of technologists. There will be arguments that even the legal profession has got people who assist lawyers and advocates in their professions. However, as my sister the Member for Nyeri has stated, the legal profession has really lagged behind because today we have paralegals who also need recognition in the legal profession. That must be done. In England, you will find that the practise of law is actually divided among solicitors, barristers and then we also have the paralegals who are recognised by law and are regulated. So, regulation is the way forward, if we are going to have an ordered society. For these reasons, I will like to support the efforts that have been made by my sister to bring order in this profession of engineering and in the general industry. I support. 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."
}