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{
"id": 1556542,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556542/?format=api",
"text_counter": 200,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Economic planning and managing the National Treasury sometimes require two sets of skills and expertise. Perhaps, it is time for the President, when considering a cabinet reorganization, to establish an independent national economic planning department or ministry. This department would be separate from the National Treasury, focusing on overseeing the granary to ensure that all inputs are accounted for and all outputs are traceable. Another subject discussed at this Forum was the goal to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Three weeks ago, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development appeared before this House, and we posed a question to him about the country's current agricultural policy. He confessed that he is still working on it. How can a country, where 33 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from the agricultural sector—leave alone the other linkages that contribute to employment across the economy—operate without a clear agricultural policy? For nearly eight years, the Agriculture and Food Authority operated without a proper board and a director general. It was only last year that this was finally formalized. The sector-specific regulations have not been brought to this House. I am happy that this House processed the amendments to the Statutory Instruments Act that provides timelines and stiff penalties to cabinet secretaries or regulatory-making entities that delay in making regulations. Agriculture is too important to be left on autopilot. The agricultural policy in this country, save for a few sectors like tea, which has been relatively well-managed due to minimal Government interference, largely relies on God. In essence, we are at the mercy of God. While we often speak of improved productivity, the reality is that it all comes down to rainfall. Not too long ago, I saw some top leaders going to church and thanking God for answering their prayers. They claimed that they were responsible for the rains that fell on the nation and increased food production. We cannot run a country in this kind of contemporary economy in a global setup by going through those kind of superstitious and backward beliefs that they are the ones who prayed for rain. It is as if prayer for rain is a preserve of just a few people. Successful economies have invested in things that go beyond the act of God. They invest in improved seed and fertiliser. There is no reason why this country continues to import blended fertiliser, when not too long ago, Toyota was supposed to set up a plant in Uasin Gishu for blending fertiliser. Let us ask ourselves, what is so special about fertiliser that stops us from getting phosphates from Morocco or getting raw materials from other parts of the globe and blending it so that we have something that is fit for climatic conditions? Just a week ago, we learned that even donations given to us in good faith are being blended, repackaged and sold at a profit yet, we turn around and call this our agricultural policy. As long as we are approaching agriculture from a perspective of tokenism and prayer, then it will continue to run on autopilot. The sectors that, perhaps, are growing are those where the Government has no hands. For example, the horticulture producers, where we have got the large scale producers in places like Narok--- The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1556543,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556543/?format=api",
"text_counter": 201,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kinyua",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
},
{
"id": 1556544,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556544/?format=api",
"text_counter": 202,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Kinyua, what is your point of order?"
},
{
"id": 1556545,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556545/?format=api",
"text_counter": 203,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kinyua",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I want my good friend, Sen. Kajwang’, to clarify whether he believes in prayers because he is doubting everything. I am wondering why he does not believe in prayers. It is not in the Standing Orders. I just need clarity because I know he is a good Christian and a good friend of mine."
},
{
"id": 1556546,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556546/?format=api",
"text_counter": 204,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am a Christian and a believer. However, there is an intersection between faith and science and the church acknowledges that. The Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Islamic faith and all other faiths believe in that intersection between science and faith. So, I will not accept a situation where the leadership wants to tell us that they are the ones responsible for the rains through their prayer. Rain is an act of God. It is through the benevolence of God that we get rain and not because of human action. As I conclude, I know there are so many things that were captured here. In the morning, I listened to my colleague, Sen. Mungatana, talk about the need for a model climate change law because part of the issues that were discussed at this high-level forum was urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. I am glad to report that through the African Parliamentarian Network on Climate Change where I sit in the Bureau, we have come up with a model climate change law, which we have circulated to all the parliaments across Africa. Kenya was a leader. Kenya came up with the first Climate Change Act in 2016, but from 2016 to date, a lot of things have changed. Things like carbon trading and carbon markets have become mainstream. The Paris Agreement has received further interpretation and further enhancements. We have new concepts, like the new collective quantified goal on climate financing. We have new concerns, like reforming the climate financing architecture. I will soon be presenting to the House and to the relevant committee the proposed climate change law so that we can compare it with Kenya's climate change law and see on the areas to enhance. One of the things that we have proposed in the model climate change law is climate budget tagging. In Uganda, when Parliament processes the budget, they have to produce at least two certificates. One certificate is that the budget is gender responsive and the second certificate is that the budget is climate responsive. I would be happy if Kenya adopted that practice that every budget must be looked at to ensure that issues of climate and gender are mainstreamed alongside the other considerations that are in the Constitution. The first Africa Climate Summit was organized and hosted in Kenya. The next one will probably be hosted in Addis Ababa, the Africa Union Headquarters. We need to go there with clarity on what we want to achieve. The biggest elephant in the room is that the people who have made riches out of activities that have polluted and aggravated the climate crisis are unwilling to part with money; a little share of the black proceeds that they have gotten, so that other countries can adapt and other countries can mitigate. That is why when we went to Baku in The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1556547,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556547/?format=api",
"text_counter": 205,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Azerbaijan for the last conference of parties, whereas African countries and developing countries had insisted that to deal with the climate crisis we needed US$1.3 trillion, the rich nations that have grown rich on the back of polluting and very hazardous activities were unwilling to yield. Out of the US$1.3 trillion, it is only US$300 billion that was put on the table. So far there are no clear regulations and guidelines on how that US$300 billion will be utilized. I hope that that will be the focus of all climate change activists as they proceed to Brazil for the next Conference of Parties to ensure there are means of implementation to allow developing countries like those in Africa - and even those that are not developing like Kenya which is a middle-income economy - to be able to adapt and mitigate. Kenya has done very well when it comes to energy. If you look at our energy mix, it is largely renewable but what we are producing is not enough. I support this Motion. I want to encourage that we ensure that we have adequate resources to allow these Members to attend this high-level forum because it helps to sharpen them and to bring them up to date on contemporary global issues. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1556548,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556548/?format=api",
"text_counter": 206,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Sen. Kajwang’. As much as I agree with you that rain is the act of God, but even in the Bible and in the Islamic faith, we have seen several stories whereby prophets have prayed for rain. I am sure, there is the story of Elijah in the Bible, who predicted a drought and then went ahead and prayed to God for rain so as to end the drought. So, let us preach the right thing. Proceed, Sen. Gloria."
},
{
"id": 1556549,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556549/?format=api",
"text_counter": 207,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Before I support this Report, I want to encourage my colleague there that in God we trust. All science interventions are good, some can even be applicable in some areas, but in God, we trust ultimately. I rise to support this Report on the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goals. Briefly, I want to draw the attention of the House to point five, which is the objectives of this Forum and particularly on A and D. On A, it says that the objectives of this high-level political forum were initially outlined in the General Assembly in the Resolution of 66288 and subsequently in the format and organizational aspects of the High-Level Political Forum Sustainable Development as part of the Resolution of 67290. On A, it says that the objective here is to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development goals. I was thinking on how to support this Report and I realized that we have all the facts with us here. As legislators, we are guided to legislate for the people in terms of what they need down in the grassroots, but also in terms of sustainable development goals. I was reflecting on some of the Bills that have been presented on the Floor of this “Upper House”. I want to congratulate my colleagues who have been showcasing that they are interested in legislating for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal No.1 is on zero poverty. Most of the pieces of legislation that we have here touch on how to bridge that gap between the rich and the poor. Yesterday, I finally The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1556550,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556550/?format=api",
"text_counter": 208,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "moved my Bill on period poverty through the Second Reading. That is one of the pieces of legislation that we have on the Floor of the House. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you know the SDGs are 17. Goal No.4 is on quality education. One of the indicators for this SDG Goal No.4 is that you have attendance rates at the primary schools and the colleges. Some of the pieces of legislation that I have seen here, including the Bill on child protection by Sen. Miraj seek to address Goal No.4. As I support this Report, I also want to talk about Goal No.5, which is to achieve gender equality. I am a Kenyan woman who has benefited from the affirmative programme to represent women in this House. We have recently had several conversations in the public about femicide, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other issues combating the women of Kenya. Some of the conversations have been very saddening. The latest one that was highlighted was that some or all our girls are involved victims of femicide because they are looking for money. I have seen that the Cabinet Secretary nominee for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage has been approved by the Committee in the National Assembly. I would like to encourage the legislators in line with this high-level political forum report to sit down with the Cabinet Secretary nominee for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage - because they have approved her as a committee - and perhaps sensitize her on the SDG No.5, which is to achieve gender equality with regard to certain matters as femicide. There is need for sensitivity and it is important for us, as legislators and leaders of this country, to understand a simple fact such as, we cannot blame a victim and purport to be pushing the ideology of the SDGs that are being highlighted here. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you can see that I am trying to really hurry through my points because of the time limitation. Sustainable Goal No.8 is decent work and the economic growth in this country. In terms of this Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), the Kenya Kwanza Government has really tried to provide a programme under the Labour Export Programme. We have the Government to Government (GtG), where, our Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection goes out to negotiate with other governments to try and ring fence certain jobs of dignity such as manual labouror, plant operator and drivers, so that our jobless youth and Kenyans can go abroad and offer their skill set to those particular economies while they earn money. Under this SDG No.8, I want to say that it is very unfortunate that we, as a Government, have intentionally tried to push this SDG by going out and ring fencing all these jobs that we have out there, whether in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Germany and Canada. It is so unfortunate to see the holders of these offices, including those in the Ministry of Labour and Social protection butchering a well-intended programme. We have had a series of so many highlights of the fraudulent activities of agents colluding with some of the officers, including some in high offices at the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to con innocent Kenyans who are trying to go out and seek a dignified living by working on these jobs that the Government has purportedly gone out to look for. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1556551,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1556551/?format=api",
"text_counter": 209,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I have been nominated by this Government to represent women. As a nominee, I also have to be able to call out some of the things that are happening within Government. At this moment, as I support this Report, it is a shame for the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection to oversight all these activities where Kenyans are really suffering. Kenyans have been conned thousands of shillings as they try to go out to seek work and offer their skill sets in these very harsh conditions. We know that Saudi Arabia is not the best place to work, but Kenyans who have no other opportunity available locally offer their skill set there yet, we as Government, under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, are not safeguarding our Kenyans. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to congratulate the sponsor of the Labour Migration Bill. When that Bill comes to the Floor of the House, because I know it is on Second Reading, I hope that we all pass it. Then, we will be able to curb all these fraudulent activities, some of them are brewing all the way to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary. We have rogue agents sitting in boardrooms of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection conning Kenyans. I have had the unfortunate experience of actually gathering Kenyans from Bobasi Constituency, telling them that the Government has provided a really good programme to ensure that they get jobs out there, only to deliver them into the hands of conmen who are in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. On a day like today when I am supporting this Report and because it is an ongoing issue, I want to take this opportunity again to ask my Party Leader to stop whatever he is doing and look into this issue of labour migration. What is happening is that, we are not only sending Kenyans to conmen, but we are also harbouring thieves and conmen in the name of Cabinet Secretaries and Government officers. It is unfortunate. Sometimes, I feel very embarrassed to stand and speak like this about a Government that I support and that has nominated me. However, I draw the line on that point. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you know I do not get the opportunity to be in any delegation that goes anywhere. My work is to wait for their reports to be brought to the House and then I read them. Only then do I get to ask if this is what they went to do in Maputo, for example. I do not tire because I believe God has put me here for a reason. So, for all the delegations that go out there, I continue to urge you to send me the reports. While you go out there and represent us, I will be here supporting the reports and pushing the agenda because I believe that is why God has put me here. I want to conclude by saying, this delegation did a very good job and I want to support this report on the High-Level Political Forum on SDGs. I continue to urge my fellow legislators to legislate with the guidelines of the SDGs in mind so that we can be able to represent our people and push for development down to the grassroots. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}
]
}