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{
    "id": 778431,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/778431/?format=api",
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    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The ACP-EU is a very good platform and for Kenya to be part of it, that is a noble course. What is discussed there is, indeed, very rich and enhances the international and regional participation of this country. For MPs, it is a good exposure. It is important for us to be part of the Economic Partnership Agreements. Allow me to take congisance of the idea that the Cotonou Agreement is coming to an end. I stand here to inform and urge all those who are involved that Kenya should position itself very well. It is so that we have a situation whereby instead of us singing about Cotonou Agreement, we strive to have in place, “Rangwe Agreement”. Rangwe Constituency, where I come from and which constituency I represent, has very good facilities for signing international agreements. This would be a good avenue for selling Kenyan towns. We could have a Murang’a Agreement. We could even have a Malindi Agreement or a Siaya Agreement. As I stand here to support this Report, I urge Kenya as a nation to position itself and have the next agreement that is going to be post-Cotonou signed somewhere in Kenya. I also want to pre-empt that Kenya has positioned itself very well to host activities of ACP-EU, which is a good thing. I think from the calendar of ACP-EU activities, we are going to host ACP-EU membership in Nairobi, which is a good thing. It is a good thing for the nation, for tourism and for promoting our activities. I specifically want to talk about the European Development Fund. It is a good development tool that we are part of. It helps in development projects across the country. Quite a bit of money comes to Kenya and it would be important that as we bring the Report to the House, probably we could also, as a matter of addition, give the quantities of monies that have been brought to Kenya so that Members do not have to be told how much has been taken to their constituencies when they go for such trips. However, it is a good thing because the EDF has promoted quite a number of development projects. I must, especially, thank this arrangement because Homa Bay County has been a beneficiary of the EDF. Also, Rangwe Constituency has greatly benefited from funding of the rural electrification system. These are good things for the country. The more we participate and go there to articulate our ideas, the better for us as a country. While there, I laud the ACP-EU systems for putting food insecurity as one of the priority areas, and for putting it as an emergency. Many times, we have, as a nation, had to deal with food insecurity but when it is taken as an emergency, the way it has been put in the systems of ACP-EU, it is easier to access emergency funds to attend to emergency situations. This is a good idea. I am also particularly looking at aspects that are looked at internationally, especially economic matters. I want to look at the blue economy. We are having issues with youth employment and unemployment. A lot of emphasis and debate has been put on the blue economy. If, as a country, we look at this positively and come back and give such reports and act on them and look for funds for increasing activities in our seas, lakes and rivers and also take our environment seriously; I think it is going to be a good thing, especially for creating employment for young people and women, who work very hard. It is a good thing that the Report has been tabled so that we are made aware that it is not just taking trips abroad and coming back but when Members go out there, they do represent the country very well and come up with very substantive reports."
}