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{
    "id": 65814,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/65814/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 295,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Wamalwa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 148,
        "legal_name": "Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa",
        "slug": "eugene-wamalwa"
    },
    "content": "To ask a young man who has just left school to get Kshs100,000 to buy a motorbike is next to impossible. But through a special fund, if the Ministry of Finance could set it up, we will remove many of those young people from a state of hopelessness and unemployment to prosperity. We need to empower them. If the operator owns the motorbike, instead of getting Kshs100, he would end up with, at least, Kshs500. Through recognition, we will have the boda boda industry uplifted in the eyes of the society and, particularly, the police who are harassing those young people. With the little they have made in a day, they must part with, at least, Kshs50 on the spot when they encounter a police officer. That must be dealt with through policy. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have also heard from Mr. ole Metito that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers across the border are also harassing the young people as they try to cross and transport goods across the border. With recognition, we can ensure that boda boda operators are respected as a dignified sector of our society that is contributing to our economy. The KRA officers at the Namanga border and traffic officers at every corner of our roads will respect this new sector. The recognition will be put in place after the Government comes up with the necessary measures. We also, as I conclude, recognize that there is a need to have a factory here which can manufacture locally made motorbikes and tuk tuks, so that they are affordable and available to Kenyans who are investing in that important sector. They should not be exploited through the importation of bikes and tuk tuks from India, China and other parts of the world. The motorbikes arrive here at a very inflated cost. If the cost could be brought down and is affordable, it would be one way of ensuring that our young people are empowered in this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I request the Government to consider, upon the passing of this Motion, putting in place an inter-ministerial taskforce that will include the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, the Ministry of Roads and the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030. They should count and know how many boda bodas we have in this country for purposes of putting in place the necessary policy measures. The Ministry of Co-operative Development and Marketing will extend the co-operative movement to the boda boda sector. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will lend a hand in setting aside land for the boda boda operators. The Ministry of Local Government is in charge of all the local authorities that are encountering the problem of town planning and accidents within the municipalities. With those few remarks, I beg to move and thank all hon. Members for their contributions to this Motion."
}