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{
    "id": 696716,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/696716/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 144,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mbui",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1750,
        "legal_name": "Robert Mbui",
        "slug": "robert-mbui"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker for this opportunity to give an opinion on this Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Bill, (National Assembly No.58 of 2015). The idea behind these miscellaneous amendments of the Statute Laws is basically to come up with minor amendments. My understanding of minor amendments is basic issues like grammatical errors, correction in language and spelling mistakes. However, we have noted in this House that many laws are changed through miscellaneous amendments. My colleague has also alluded to that fact. So, it is important that we go through this carefully. I want to begin with the amendment to the Copyright Act, 2001, where there is a provision for a more structured compensation for music producers and performers whose music is stolen by other people. It is a fact that piracy is an issue of concern to our artists. It is an issue that we need to look at very keenly because if we allow it to thrive, then we kill the industry and our artists’ spirits. It is important to ensure that piracy is put to a stop. Piracy is a crime. It is theft. We need to ensure that the punishment that is meted for such kind of crime is deserving of the criminals that do it. If the structured compensation provides enough leeway for the producers and performers to get compensated adequately, then it is definitely a good thing. On the issue of copyright, I have noted that there are so many bodies that are dealing with piracy in Kenya. In fact, it is when you get into the hotel industry that you get to know that there are people who deal with that. There are about five bodies. Each of them is always constantly asking to be paid an annual amount for the operations of their offices. It is important that, as we deal with this, we also need to agree on who can deal with issues of copyright so that not every Tom, Dick and Harry gets involved and tries to collect money from the same. On the issue of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Act, I think this amendment makes a lot of sense to me because this is purely an academic issue. Obviously, it falls directly under the management of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Therefore, allowing the CS some powers to appoint members of this board is in order, as long as, of course, the number of people appointed by the CS is not excessive and does not reach that point where they have controlling interest over the Institute. It is important that the CS be 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."
}