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{
    "id": 721834,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/721834/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 35,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Katoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 199,
        "legal_name": "Judah Katoo Ole-Metito",
        "slug": "judah-ole-metito"
    },
    "content": "the practice of making minor amendments that do not warrant the publication of separate Bills by consolidating them into one Bill. Therefore, that is what this Bill is trying to achieve. Let me start by saying that there are about nine or so pieces of legislation that are proposed for amendments. I want to start with the last one, which is the National Employment Authority Act, 2016. It is the National Assembly Bill No.3 of 2016. The Bill proposes to amend the said Act to expand the mandate of the Authority by making it inclusive to cater for all persons, not just the youth. If you look at the Bill, it is for the youth. Wherever “youth” is indicated, the proposed amendments are putting “youth/persons”. It is going to be persons, not just the youth alone. It also proposes to confer the Authority with certain recruitment functions in relation to Kenyan migrant workers, including registration of agencies, pre-training programmes, welfare and provision of legal and other assistance to such workers when they are in distress. This is very important, especially the insertion of the New Sub-cause 8(a), where the Authority will be advising the Cabinet Secretary (CS) on all matters concerning labour migration, coordinate various labour migration activities to ensure protection of Kenyan migrant workers and promote their welfare, especially when they are outside the country. It is also proposed that the Authority will have a register and maintain an integrated data of all Kenyan migrant workers. There is a typo error in the Bill. It is good to note that in sub-clause (c), in the insertion of the New Clause 8(a) where it says “integrated date”. It should be “integrated data” of all Kenyan emigrant workers. We have had a problem with those agencies recruiting Kenyans to go and work abroad. They just go without any prior information on where they are going to. The proposal in the amendments is for the Authority to be approving pre-departure training programmes and to ensure that Kenyan emigrant workers undergo the relevant pre-departure preparation before they leave to work outside Kenya. It is also good that we have some research and information on labour migration. It is proposed to give the Authority powers to undertake research, collect and disseminate information on labour migration. This is important for this country. It will even be used for security purposes and even for registration, like in the just ended registration of voters. If we have research and information on labour migration, we can easily know who is where and at what time. More importantly, we are proposing that the Authority be given the powers to ensure that Kenyan emigrant workers who are in distress are assisted and returned to Kenya when necessary. We have really had, even in the recent past, Kenyans suffering abroad, especially in conflict- prone areas like South Sudan. They had to be evacuated. I am not sure whether it was in Sierra Leone or Liberia where there was an outbreak of Ebola . Kenyan medics had to move in. Kenyans living in those countries were in distress. Therefore, there was need for a structured, well-arranged and well-coordinated programme for assistance. We have even had problems with those who go to Arab countries like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We have had many Questions here; Members of Parliament (MPs) asking about their constituents who are suffering in the hands of foreigners abroad. Therefore, this proposed amendment will give the Authority powers to ensure that any Kenyan in distress outside this country is assisted and returned to Kenya as and when it is necessary. It is also proposed that the Authority will be developing and implementing programmes to ensure that Kenyan emigrants - workers returning to Kenya - are re-integrated into the society. At times, others do not easily locate where their relatives live once they come back. Some of 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."
}