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{
    "id": 903840,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/903840/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 551,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. In fact, I was about to protest if you had not allowed us to make contributions. This is a topical discussion at this time for us in Kenya, first, as legislators and for many of us, who bear the brunt of young people in this country. Every time such issues arise, if you go to the social media pages of many of our colleagues here, especially those of us who are under the age of 35 or 40, you will see the kind of insults that are traded therein. The young people of this country are angry, and validly so. They ask those of us who are in positions of privilege – like those of us who are in Parliament – what we are doing about their plight. This is because some people continue to make policy decisions that greatly impact on their life with total disregard to their feelings. They, therefore, ask about what we can do to try to alleviate or make their lives better. Madam Temporary Speaker, I began this protest immediately we came for this term. The President gave his strategic policy direction in what is otherwise known as the Big Four Agenda. However, in the things that he said he wants to consider, there was very little regard in terms of tying up the nods to ensure that in everything that the Government does, it gives hope and jobs to our young people, so that they are able to pay for their daily upkeep and ensure that they live a decent life like any other person. Madam Temporary Speaker, I have seen the clarification that has come from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) on this policy that is being discussed here this afternoon. They have released a communication today saying that the communication that has been given in the media, especially in the newspapers, because this story has been around for about a week now, is erroneous and misleading. While that may be true, it does not suffice it that they have given a long list of spare parts that they have banned without following the due procedure of consulting the players in this particular industry. Madam Temporary Speaker, public participation is a key and integral part of our national values under Article 10 of our Constitution. For any major departure from the norm, we expect the policy makers to, first of all, engage all the stakeholders. I cannot imagine any stakeholder that would be bigger or more important to any policy decision in this country other than Parliament, which is a gathering of the people of Kenya. This is where all the 47 million Kenyans meet, either in this House or the other House. Therefore, I cannot imagine how anybody can sit and decide to have a radical departure 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."
}