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{
    "id": 861059,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/861059/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 398,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 124,
        "legal_name": "Samson Kegeo Ongeri",
        "slug": "samson-ongeri"
    },
    "content": "are thinking about, Kenyans have the capacity to put in their stamp so that they can earn out of their sweat and skills. The first important element that this Bill brings out is the content of training, but we must now gear our universities and our Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) colleges to train manpower which is relevant to the industrial needs of this country. There must be public participation between our public universities and private universities with the industry in Kenya so as to mould a curriculum that is serviceable for both sides. There is the question of developing a curriculum which is essential and important for delivering this capacity. That is a gain through this Bill. The second gain is that when it comes to elaboration through the skills, there is the element of innovation. In any country, money lies in innovations and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). Today, China is harassing the rest of the world because they have put their resources and energies in ensuring that the people who are skilled come up with multiple innovations that can churn out various products that are competitive worldwide, therefore, creating immense wealth for the Chinese Government. Equally, Kenya can borrow that example; that once we have developed our manpower base and we have bequeathed them with the skills that are necessary and essential for the development of that industry, they will excel in a much better way than has been the case. Therefore, this Bill requires Kenyans to be in charge of their destiny. It does not matter whether it is a foreign investment company, Kenyans will have their destiny because they can make decisions on behalf of whatever company that is investing in Kenya. This is the first element that we gain out of it. What about the agricultural industry? Today, this is one of the biggest headaches; whether it is the dairy, wheat, coffee or tea industry. We see a lot of mechanization taking place. If Kenyans are not part and parcel of this process, we will be spectators in an industry that is exploiting local resources. This is why local content in the way of manpower is important. Today some of our farmers will do value addition for some of their products. Why should I sell raw milk directly to the factory when we can do value addition such as producing cheese, yoghurt and various forms of drinks, as I have seen the South African drinks on our supermarket shelves? They are milk products that have been added value and skills and are being sold here at three or four times the cost of the raw materials. This is where the wealth is. I want to inform the Senate and my colleagues that one of the things that has made the United States of America (USA) the kingpin of the world is because of IPRs. They have invested in inventions and, therefore, you cannot buy, sell or reproduce what they have invented until ten years are over. Using the global law on IPRs, you cannot form the generic version of what has been developed. Why are Kenyans not using their own raw materials to develop IPRs that are clearly generated in this country? When you sell or use your innovations, you create wealth for that nation. Therefore, per capita income goes high, employment opportunities rise and the country moves to the grade or level of newly developed nations that can earn from their own sweat. This is in agriculture. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}