HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 661052,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/661052/?format=api",
"text_counter": 293,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "preserved. The definitions have been given in tangible expression. For instance, the difference in making pots among the Luo and Kamba, can be very important. We take pride when the nyatiti is played nicely. We should keep those traditional expressions and instruments in Kisumu and former Nyanza Province, so that people can be proud of them. In most countries that we have gone to, you will find that various communities keep robes that were won by Kings unlike in Western Kenya, where we used to have kings as well. Where are the robes that the kings in western Kenya used to wear? Who keeps them? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have done poorly in history. Sen. Karaba, since your Committee is doing some of these things, note that we have done extremely poorly in history and record keeping. I was told that in Makueni County when the county government took over, they took the paperwork of the defunct local authorities and heaped them somewhere in a room to gather dust. These records can tell you how transition took place for over a period of 50 years and from the old Constitution to the Current constitution. This country does not keep even those simple things. What was the purpose of having Bomas of Kenya and how can we protect it? The original idea of having it was to have a place to find traditional practices in one place. For instance, if you wanted to experience the Samburu dance, Shuka, writing, food, huts and other things associated with Samburu, you could easily access them in a single place. There is a current trend where people are walking away from the huts as they were made. Fifty years from now, nobody would know the concept behind the huts that we used to make. These include the huts that Kambas used to make, with a traditional pole at the middle. The reason for having a pole in the middle of the granary was to access it from the top. Who will teach these lessons to the next generations? The granaries in Ukambani used to be built above ground level and something triangular put in between. The reason for this kind of development was to prevent the rodents from entering the granary. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as I have said, I have not seen traditional sites and foods being recognised here. For us to do any justice to this Bill, that should find its way here. In terms of patenting, we should not just walk around with Maasai bracelets aimlessly unpatented. If someone attempts to use something that is copyrighted without the consent of its owner, she or he will pay dearly for it. It should be the same for people pretending that they can sing and dance to traditional songs without the consent of the people who came up with them or the community they originated from. These items are all here, for example, cultural events, folksongs and moral rights, among others. In law, we study morality and how to legislate on it. In this Bill there is an expression of moral rights as a result of culture, which is a very good invention. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to recognise people who came up with this Bill as the drafting was well done. It goes into great lengths about disputes concerning the patents mentioned. If you have a culture that goes into various boundaries, for instance, Maasai community residing in different countries such as Uganda and Tanzania; the Kambas who are in Tanzania and Zambia, and have a disputes arising due to cultural practices and their recognition, the dispute mechanism has been put in the draft Bill. 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"
}