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"id": 951659,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/951659/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
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"content": "It is through collaborations in such conferences that our colleagues attended where they are able to make an impression on our colleagues in the European Union (EU) on where there can be a transfer of knowledge and skills as well as the opportunities that are there and which are mutually beneficial for our people. This is not just a case of us pleading. It is not where we imagine that, as Africans, we will be seated at the table, extending our begging bowls to our colleagues from the EU, saying, “Oh, we have young people who can work for you.” That is not the case. This is actually a mutually beneficial exercise, where for the challenges that they face, we have the solution. Similarly, they have the solutions to some of the challenges that we face, as a continent, considering that their democracy is older than ours. The relationship, as it is, is no longer that of the colonialist and the colonized; sitting at a table where you want to imagine that because of our history, and how we have been socialized, that one would have an upper hand over the other. Reading through this Report and following through some of the deliberations and conference resolutions, you must appreciate the contributions of the delegation that we sent there. This is not only for us, a country, but for the entire African Continent. They put up a strong case to understand that what Africa needs, more than anything, is collaboration and that the era of aid is long gone. On our own, we are able to put out a strong case and provide much of the skills and requisite knowledge required to make our significant contribution in alleviating, poverty, disease, ignorance and many challenges that we continue to face, as a continent. Therefore, reading through the contributions of our colleagues, I thank them for the brilliant representation. Of course, it is difficult to sit at that table and try to make such a strong case while moving to the second topic, where you discus issues of migration. Knowing that part of the problems they are presenting are of our own people who are trying to cross into Europe via boats, et cetera . It does not match well; that on one hand you are saying: “We have well-educated young people who can provide solutions to you.” On the other hand, the person you are trying to sell your continent who tells you: “Okay; that is fair enough.” Our biggest challenge is immigration, where many of our young people are dying, as they try to make these journeys via rickety boats and the kind of things that they do.” I have seen from the deliberations that many of the countries were able to inform the conference on what steps they were taking. These are challenges that are all over. Even Europe, at a particular time if you read through history, when they faced the challenges of disease, they moved to other continents. When they had the challenge of resources, they moved downwards to Africa and that is why they came and colonized us. Therefore, this issue of Africa being viewed as a failed region simply because of upheavals in certain parts of this continent is as a result of people trying to fend for themselves. We have to understand that in the human mindset, not everyone is made with the tenacity to hang in there, fight and believe that there can be a better future for our continent. Of course, there are bound to be people who will imagine that Europe or the Pacific offers a better opportunity for them than here in Africa. 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."
}