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{
    "id": 749478,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/749478/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 181,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ababu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 108,
        "legal_name": "Ababu Tawfiq Pius Namwamba",
        "slug": "ababu-namwamba"
    },
    "content": "behaviour. If that youth empowerment programme is anything to go by, it can only be beneficial to this country if the President‟s Award Programme is expanded and opportunity presented to young people across the board so that they contribute to forging a strong nation. This programme is particularly significant viewed in the context of realities of this country where the negative aspects of ethnicity remain a big threat to our nationhood and the stability of our nation. This is one of those initiatives where our young people can come together and develop a national outlook that can bring down ethnicity, regionalism and political and socio-economic barriers. It is an initiative that would help our youth look at this nation as one indivisible whole where to borrow the words of Martin Luther King, one is judged not by the colour of their skin or by the sound of their last name but purely by their character. It is about the character they have forged and the ability they can bring to the table that we call Kenya where merit is given prominence above all other considerations in the sharing of the resources of this country and in the service of this land. So, I want to support this Bill. I am very happy that this is among the last legislative actions that this House is undertaking because it sends a very strong message that this House, the 11th Parliament, has indeed remained committed to fulfilling the agenda of ensuring that our young people are given opportunity. I can tell you that my experience, one, as a former Minister for Youth Affairs and now as a leader of a party, is giving prominence to young people. I am very proud to say that Labour Party is leading from the front in giving opportunities to young people. If you look at the candidates we are putting forward for the August elections, you will realize that they are majorly young people. It demonstrates that if you offer opportunities to young people, they are bound to grab those opportunities and make this country a better place to live in. We know from history that the founders of this nation, the first generation of leaders of this nation, the Mwai Kibakis, the Gikonyos and the Tom Mboyas were very young people. These are young people who contributed to the forging of the foundations of this nation, some of them in their twenties. Tom Mboya became a Cabinet Minister in his late twenties. Many of these people, like Dr. Kiano, made marked contribution to the growth of this nation at a very young age. Indeed, we have a history. We have examples we can draw from; that if you open doors of opportunity to young people, they can make a marked contribution in this country. Let me sign off by congratulating my good friend, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, who has just unveiled a programme for cheaper unga on what he is calling „the food subsidy‟. This is commendable. Starting tomorrow, Kenyans can walk into any supermarket or kiosk and buy a two-kilogram packet of unga retailing at Kshs90 down from Kshs160. This is commendable. Coming from the land of Mulembe where obusuma (ugali), is a matter of life and death, I must commend the Government for moving with speed and responding to the cry about ugali . Nothing has pained Kenyans in the last few months more than the very high cost of ugali . So, my friend, Willy Bett and the Government in general, congratulation on this. I support this Bill. Thank you. 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."
}