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{
"id": 94422,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/94422/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for East African Community",
"speaker": {
"id": 27,
"legal_name": "Amason Jeffah Kingi",
"slug": "amason-kingi"
},
"content": "Resources requested and allocated to the Ministry from the Exchequer and from donors from the year 2010/2011 will enable the Ministry to meet her Recurrent Expenditure requirements such as salary of staff, statutory obligations, maintenance and operations. Specific recurrent activities entail:- (i) Strengthening the expanded mandate of the central planning project, monitoring and evaluation unit, to undertake research, monitoring and evaluation activities. (ii) Strengthening of the directorate of information, education and communications. (iii)Participation in the negotiations of the EAC monetary union and the political federation. (iv) Participation in the EAC negotiations and cross-cutting issues such as the EAC-EU EPA, ESA-EU WTO bilateral issues and COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite negotiations. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the Development Vote, the Ministry will undertake the following activities:- (i) Establish and operationalize regional integration centres at Namanga and Busia. (ii) Strengthening national publicity and advocacy for EAC integration. (iii)Establishment of monitoring and evaluation services. (iv) Strengthening of the research, reference and documentation centre at the Ministry. (v) Undertake research on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice, commonly known as KAP on the common market. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, the EAC brings enormous benefits to the people of this country through the various community programmes and projects. My Ministry has the central role in the co-ordination of various Government departments to bring about those benefits. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to highlight some examples of programmes and projects. Firstly, since the introduction of Customs Union which was established in 2005, Kenyaâs exports to the EAC increased from Kshs64 billion in 2004 to Kshs90 billion in 2009, accounting for 26 per cent of the total Kenyaâs export. The common market which became effective on 1st July, 2010 will deepen the benefits related to free movement of people, capital labour on services and will protect the right of residents and establishment. Professionals, business people and workers will access opportunities across borders without any form of discrimination. Secondly, Kenya is a major beneficiary of regional road projects such as the Kenya Component of the Arusha-Namanga-Athi River Road, whose construction is on-going at a cost of US$156 million. The road is funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) and is expected to be completed this year. The Arusha-Holili-Voi Road, whose feasibility study and design work are ongoing, will cost US$5.5 million, and is also funded by the African Development Bank. Other road projects include the Malindi-Lunga Lunga Road, the Tanga-Bagamoyo Road and the one stop border post along the border points at Malaba, Busia, Isebania, Namanga, Taveta and Lunga Lunga, with the construction work at Namanga expected to begin by the end of this year at a cost of US$11.5 million. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thirdly, Kenya is a beneficiary of the Lake Victoria Basin Project, which cover the management of shared water resources and fisheries, population prevention and control, watershed management and project co- ordination, all at a total cost of US$115 million. Fourthly, the cost of energy is a major impediment to the business community. In this regard, through the EAC, the Mombasa-Songo Songo gas pipeline is undergoing engineering design to enable Kenya tap on the cheap natural gas available in Tanzania. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are equally working together with the Ministries of Education and Health in the areas of harmonization of education curriculum in order to ensure mutual recognition of education standards and certificates as well as co-operation on health matters. These projects have been made possible mainly because of the EAC integration process. The net beneficiaries of these projects are actually our own people, the Kenyans. The Ministryâs budget for the Financial Year 2010/11will enable the Ministry to achieve planned activities outlined above. It will enable the Ministries remit Kenyaâs contribution to the EAC secretariat. It will help strengthen and build the hitherto weak institutional and technical capacity, as well as having an effective sensitization programme and monitoring and evaluation required for better implementation of the integration process agenda. In doing all this, Kenya will spread the scope of the EAC benefits to our people. With those few short statements, I beg to move and ask Mr. Kajwangâ to second the Motion."
}