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{
"id": 1554942,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554942/?format=api",
"text_counter": 406,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ikolomani, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Bernard Shinali",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in its report on the vetting of nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 9th April 2025 and pursuant to the provision of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution, this House approves the appointment of Ms Regina Akoth Ombam as Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade. The suitability of the nominee was assessed after scrutiny of her background, academic credentials and professional qualifications, work and professional experience, personal integrity, as well as her performance during the approval hearing conducted on 4th April 2025, upon which the Committee made the following findings: 1. The nominee is a Kenyan citizen and does not hold dual citizenship in conformity with Article 78 of the Constitution regarding her eligibility for appointment to a State office. 2. The nominee has the requisite academic and professional qualifications recognised in Kenya. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1554943,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554943/?format=api",
"text_counter": 407,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ikolomani, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Bernard Shinali",
"speaker": null,
"content": "3. According to the records and information availed to the Committee by the nominee and the various clearing agencies, the nominee meets the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity. 4. In accordance with Article 77(2) of the Constitution and the Schedule of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), the nominee does not hold office in any political party. 5. The nominee is compliant with Articles 75 and 76 of the Constitution on the conduct and financial probity of State officers. 6. She indicated the non-existence of a potential conflict of interest and committed to declare any should it arise. The Committee did not receive any written statement under oath contesting the suitability of the nominee, as required under Section 6(9) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F). 7. The Committee exercised due diligence and contacted vetting bodies for confidential information, but did not receive any adverse report on the nominee. 8. The nominee demonstrated knowledge of topical, administrational and technical issues touching on the Government and the specific sector she has been nominated to. The nomination of Ms Regina Akoth was in compliance with the Constitution and the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F). The nominee is suitable for appointment as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Trade. On behalf of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, I am proud to move this Special Motion on the consideration of Ms Regina Akoth for appointment as the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Trade. I beg to move and request Hon. Marianne Kitany, Member for Aldai, to second."
},
{
"id": 1554944,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554944/?format=api",
"text_counter": 408,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " Hon. Marianne Kitany."
},
{
"id": 1554945,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554945/?format=api",
"text_counter": 409,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Aldai, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Marianne Kitany",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to second the nomination of Ms Regina Ombam as the Principal Secretary for Trade. The Kenyan Government is currently faced with many challenges in the trade sector, more specifically the recent ban on tea by Sudan. There are also issues to do with trade with the United States of America (USA) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Agreement, which is coming to an end with a possible renewal. We also intend to pass many other trade agreements. We have the trade agreement with the European Union (EU) which is already in force. The State Department should actualise that trade agreement and ensure that Kenyans benefit from trade agreements that are already in place, and that trade between Kenya and other countries is improved. Listening to her experiences, we are very excited that she is up to the task. She will move this country forward to a better level in terms of trade, whether internally or externally with other countries. I beg to second."
},
{
"id": 1554946,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554946/?format=api",
"text_counter": 410,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Question proposed)"
},
{
"id": 1554947,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554947/?format=api",
"text_counter": 411,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " The Leader of the Majority Party takes precedence."
},
{
"id": 1554948,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554948/?format=api",
"text_counter": 412,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the appointment of Ms Regina Akoth as a Principal Secretary in the State Department for Trade. As we consider her approval, and I hope the House will support it, I would like to tell her that she is coming into office at a time the country and indeed the world trade environment The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1554949,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554949/?format=api",
"text_counter": 413,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
"speaker": null,
"content": "has major challenges. Top among them are the events that have happened in the United States of America with tariffs being loaded onto many countries, including Kenya, at a rate of 10 per cent. This will have new challenges for our goods and commodities, especially our tea and coffee that are largely exported to countries in America and Europe. As the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee has said, there are a number of economic partnership agreements that are in the works. Before this House, we have the Economic Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Kenya and the United Arab Emirates. I would like to alert her that she will need to put on very light shoes to be able to run around the world to engage many more trading partners. This is so that our country is not dependent on one or two destinations for our commodities and products, whether it is our agricultural products or our manufactured products. She needs to open up more trade destinations. Opportunity lies within the African Continent. Encouraging more countries to sign up to the African Free Continental Trade Area is one of the quick wins we can get. I hope Ms Regina will be able to move with speed and encourage many more African countries to open up their boundaries for our goods to access the very huge potential that lies within the African continent. Even as we look at countries out there, we may not have the muscle to flex with those who are imposing tariffs like the USA on our products because we largely depend on many of them even for our tourism sector. But it is possible to open up many more destinations, open up more trade routes between our country and other African countries. The African continent is the continent of the future in terms of trade. We are the continent with the youngest age in terms of population that is productive and that can produce and consume. Therefore, the ageing generations in America, Asia and Europe increasingly will consume less and the African continent will increasingly consume more. Therefore, there is a great opportunity within the African continent. That is why I just want to encourage Ms Regina as she takes the office, should we approve her, to move with speed and help us open up more economic partnership agreements with many other countries and open up more trade routes within the African continent. This is even as we constructively engage with our colleagues and our partners in Europe and in America, including the Government of President Donald Trump. They also need our products. President Donald Trump is talking about America first. We must also begin talking about Kenya first and that which benefits the Kenyan people. In Nebraska and Seattle in the USA, they consume our coffee. As they do that, it must be Kenya first and Kenyan coffee first. We must not get enticed to get into the tariff war. However, we can position our country and brand our coffee, tea and other products in a manner that the population in countries that think of putting tariffs on them tell their countries not to tax Kenyan coffee because it is the best coffee in the world. I beg to support."
},
{
"id": 1554950,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554950/?format=api",
"text_counter": 414,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Peter Kaluma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": {
"id": 1565,
"legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
"slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
},
"content": " The Chair, Departmental Committee on Health, Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal."
},
{
"id": 1554951,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554951/?format=api",
"text_counter": 415,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I must take this opportunity to really stress that Ms Regina will do this job. She comes from my village. I know the work she did at the National Aids Control Council when it was very difficult to handle the Aids epidemic. She worked effectively and she has experience at this high level of Government. I support her appointment as the Permanent Secretary."
}
]
}