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{
    "id": 64694,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/64694/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 447,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Wekesa",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Forestry and Wildlife",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 209,
        "legal_name": "Noah Mahalang'ang'a Wekesa",
        "slug": "noah-wekesa"
    },
    "content": "I know for many years that there have been complaints by para-professionals – that is people who render very good service to the farming community - that they have not been recognized. However, this Bill is now going to correct that problem that is facing that group of people. It was a very well intentioned move not to separate the Bill that governs the technicians and this Bill that now covers the professional veterinarians. By doing so, we have killed two birds with one stone. One, we have brought order in the sector. We have brought veterinary medicine to the level of other professions such as human medicine. I also want to say that food security is very important in Kenya. When we talk about security, many people always think of guns, spears and people fighting. Little do we give a thought to the fact that a hungry person is a source of insecurity. For a long time, this country has suffered from insecurity of different kinds. Lack of food is a very serious matter. I know that this Bill is going to play a major role in the provision of food. The Minister has referred to the fact that, many years ago, this country was a major exporter of meat and other meat products. It was a major exporter of hides and skins. In fact, I remember that many years ago - in the 1960s - export of hides and skins was third in terms of foreign exchange earning capacity for the Government. So, when we are introducing reforms in that sector, we are doing so with the knowledge that we are going to improve food security. If we look at the number of people who depend on milk, meat or even blood as a food source, it is a good proportion. There are many Kenyans who depend on food products from the animal sector. Therefore, this Bill is very timely and we hope that when this House passes it, we will open up the markets for Kenya to export their livestock and meat products to those who need them. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, this Bill is also going to bring order in the way we do business. The veterinary surgeons have always had a Bill that was not wide enough. The former Bill did not take into consideration the research that is going on today. It did not take into consideration the increasing number of practitioners who come out of our veterinary schools. It did not take into account the very hard working professionals in the field. But what this Bill has done is to establish a board; a board that will be in charge of registering both those groups. It will be registering veterinary surgeons. The registration will be manned by a fully fledged officer. They will pay a minimum amount of money to be licensed. The same will apply to the technicians who will also be registered. That will ensure that the functioning of this sector is brought in line with the practices that we see in the developed countries. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, there is also the problem of the veterinary curriculum. The Board will have on its membership, the dean of the faculty who will be a member. We have to look also at the teaching at our veterinary schools. We have to look at the number of students who ought to be admitted vis-a-viz the available jobs. It is not good to train a person for five years as a veterinary surgeon and when he has completed his degree, he has no job. Similarly, it is not good for the country to train too many technicians without guaranteeing them a job. So, this Board will oversee the university curriculum and intake of students within our institutions of higher learning. It will ensure that universities and the technical schools are taking in people who will be trained and will be assured of getting employment. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, veterinary medicine is a changing profession. It has to keep up with the technology of today. The teaching of veterinary medicine has changed over many years. I qualified 40 years ago and the present veterinarian now has to be able to embrace technology, so that he can perform his job properly. I am thinking of the way we treat our animals. Very few people know that animals do feel pain. We should treat our animals humanely, be they wildlife, domestic animals or our pets. This is something that I was not taught at school, but now the universities are teachings students how to handle animals. They are teaching human beings to know that as much as you feel pain, the animal also feels pain. That cat, dog or even donkey of yours that you overload with bags of beans and potatoes feel pain and it should be treated humanely. It should be taken for treatment when it is sick. It should be given enough food and you should not cause injury to the animal by overloading it. These issues are now being taught in universities. Those of us who went to university in the 1960s were not taught this subject. Therefore, the veterinary surgeon will work hand in hand with the technician and the para-professional. They have always worked together, but we have not had any framework in which we can make them feel that they are giving a very important service to this nation. With those few remarks, I beg to second this very important Bill."
}