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{
    "id": 717909,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/717909/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 220,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Okoth",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12482,
        "legal_name": "Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth",
        "slug": "kenneth-odhiambo-okoth"
    },
    "content": "Even at the county level, I come from the County of Nairobi and the County Government of Nairobi had proposed to construct early childhood development (ECD) centres through containers. That plan did not sit very well with parents. I can tell you that in places like Kibra, we want quality facilities for our children. We do not want our children to learn in a container as a school. We want them to have a proper school that is well-built. This is where we seek that in counties like Mombasa, Kisumu and across the country, there should be that innovation and a space, even within education, that you can invite providers to come in, whether they are a faith- based group like the Loreto Sisters or other missionaries who have built a lot of good schools. We were confirming Mr. Michael Sialai to be the next Clerk and Hon. Chris Wamalwa told us about his background from his youth days at Friends School Kamusinga and the wonderful values he learned there. There are so many Friends Schools. I cannot see why we cannot engage with the Friends’ educators and let them think about opening up kindergartens on behalf of the counties where this early childhood education initiative has not been taken on a public private partnership basis. Parents would have wider choice where public schools are failing or not living up to their standards and wasting the opportunity and potential of their children to move. Even if it is the basic capitation per child, it is the right of every child to take that to a private provider that has signed a contract with the Government on certain outcomes. I had mentioned Hon. Sialai coming in as our next Clerk. I am delighted. I did not get a chance to support him formally when the Motion was being debated because the Mover was called upon to reply. I want to go on record to say that I am excited. He has been a gentleman, a friend and a mentor. Hon. Justin Bundi who is going out has been a wonderful Clerk. I did not know him very well when I first came to Parliament but in the last year or so, we have become very good friends. He has been somebody I can turn to for advice, humour and encouragement. He served as a guest at the opening of a fantastic Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) project in Kibra. He was a chief guest together with the Ambassador of France to open Joseph Kang’ethe Primary School. I wish Mr. Bundi a wonderful retirement where he can write his memoirs and share his leadership experience with the people of Tharaka Nithi and Kenya in general. I also wish Mr. Sialai Godspeed as he takes on this important role through the transition and make sure that he will steer Parliament to greater heights. I heard that there was a concern that Parliament should not recruit very young people who will be in these positions for too long. I reject that notion. There are so many young energetic people. If you look at the Clerk of the Senate, I do not think he is 50 years old. However, he is competent. He should stay there. People should not be worried and say that only old people who have five years left to retirement should aspire to become a Clerk. Even young people in their 40s, in the spirit of the Jubilee Manifesto should be able to say that we are an inclusive Government and young people can aspire. I pray that in the next Parliament, while Hon. Sialai fits the bill and is a top-notch candidate, I pray for him to succeed in nurturing a new generation of women leaders."
}