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{
    "id": 866587,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/866587/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 89,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Makueni, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Daniel Maanzo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to support this very important Report. Several other protocols in relation to the EAC have been ratified. South Sudan has now joined the EAC. The private sector in Kenya has expanded. In committee proceedings, it was observed that the private sector namely: the Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank and supermarkets have expanded and will be affected by this Protocol. We have also seen Uchumi Supermarket and Mount Kenya University also expand. There is need to have reliable highspeed ICT network to link the headquarters in Nairobi, Kigali, Bujumbura, Arusha, Dar es Salaam and other towns in the region. For that matter, ICT is very important in private sector business. The EAC has grown in other areas like agriculture, trade and in terms of increased income tax. There is need to be compliant and make sure that the ratings are unified. This is a very important Protocol. I congratulate the Committee that prepared the Report because they have shown how ICT would benefit the EAC Secretariat and its activities. The EAC Broadband ICT Infrastructure network has already been established. If such a network is established, it follows that we must have a legal infrastructure also to support it such that in the event there are gaps, there will be a way of sorting them out legally by having the backing of law. We have seen the obligations placed on Kenya by the Protocol. Kenya needs to do a few things which include passing this Protocol so that we comply with the parent law which allows other protocols in the region to be complied with. Kenya is a leader in this area. It has been leading in East Africa in many other activities. It is, therefore, important that we be the first to ratify the Protocol and then the other nations will copy from us. There was a report on a visit to the Namanga one-stop boarder post. It is one area that needs the use of ICT when processing passports or names because presently an identity card of a nation can be used. There are many other areas we could co-operate with the other nations and Kenya will benefit in trade. There was also a presentation on EAC Protocol on ICT. It showed how the EAC roaming charges will be harmonised and interconnectivity generally. This is a very important Protocol. It is one of the protocols we must pass as a requirement of law. I encourage Members to support it so that we can quickly get into full business with the rest of the EAC countries. Thank you."
}