{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=152722","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=152720","results":[{"id":1545402,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545402/?format=json","text_counter":187,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you. Proceed, Sen. Mungatana."},{"id":1545403,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545403/?format=json","text_counter":188,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Mungatana, MGH","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to thank you and Sen. Kathuri for ably moving this report and giving the nation and the Senate what they managed to achieve when they went to represent us in the international forum. One of the things that the Parliaments sitting out there discussed was the need to develop closer cooperation with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) nations. It was discussed that there is need for developing cooperation with not only the traditional EU bloc, but also to look for a way to find cooperation with the BRICS. The BRICS is a new bloc that has come up and is asserting its presence in the global arena. In the past we only had the Western versus the Eastern powers, but here we have the BRICS. 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":1545404,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545404/?format=json","text_counter":189,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Mungatana, MGH","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"I want to congratulate those Members who represented us and the views that our regional Parliaments need, to also shift focus and start finding a way to work with the BRICS. The reason is that the BRICS came together and discussed a lot of issues around trade and cooperation between themselves. They have started to invite other nations to come together and work with them. The most critical thing is that these nations have decided that they will start operating on a new platform of trade. They will not be using the dollar anymore to do their international trade. This is a tremendously huge and important step that needs to be emulated. What is it that they have done so well that is resulting in them moving in that direction and what can we learn, especially from Africa and the Pacific regions? What is it that Parliaments from this African-Pacific region can learn from that move? I support the idea that the African and Pacific area Parliaments should find a way to cooperate with the BRICS. One of the issues that was discussed is a common problem that some States are failing to give their assessed contributions to the organisation. They said that 10 countries did not make a single contribution to the 2022 budget of that regional organisation. The question then begs; how does a nation join an international organisation, sign treaties and then, refuse to give its assessed contribution? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a challenge that we need to address. My prayer is that the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in Kenya will not be one of those that will be mentioned. I am sure they were not be in this one. I want to take this opportunity to urge the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs, the Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, together with his Principal Secretary, Dr. Korir Sing’oei, to sit down and review all our memberships, so that we are not part of those countries that are described as 100 per cent non-contributor countries because we have signed to be in those organisations. It is a shame. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in this particular meeting, our President visited and was the guest of honour. He officially opened the sitting of that Parliament. You can imagine if you are not contributing and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has not verified whether we are contributing, and then the President goes there as a guest of honor. These things should be looked at. I know the Ministry is listening to me. Can they sit down and review all treaties we are supposed to be contributing to, especially parliamentary organizations, so that this issue will never affect us as a nation? I am proud of the fact that whenever we go to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and stand to speak as Kenyans, we speak with a lot of pride and honor. This is because we have managed to keep up with our assessed contributions. My prayer is that Kenya will never be mentioned in a list of shame in areas we belong to an international organization, that do not pay up on our assessed contribution. The third issue that was discussed and is critical was the concern that was raised by African and Pacific Parliamentarians meeting of the non-tariff barriers by the European Union (EU). A concern was expressed about the “green deals”. These policies tend to be segregatory against agricultural animal products that are coming from Africa and Pacific nations. The EU comes up with standards which are hurting businesses from Africa and the Pacific region. This issue was discussed at length. 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":1545405,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545405/?format=json","text_counter":190,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Mungatana, MGH","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"My prayer is that every time we go to these international meetings, the point must be made that Africa should not be segregated. We should not use these standards to deny opportunity to do business. Already, we suffer a lot. It takes a lot of effort for us to access the markets in the EU. It is sad that they are now developing more standards that are excluding animal products and other products from the agriculture sector coming from Africa. I am happy that the report that was read to us and laid on this Table has said that members raised concern about this. Some of the standards that the EU is creating are not genuine. Those are standards that are specifically created to exclude the Pacific and African nations from their markets. That promotes their own products so that their intra- trade within the EU is increased at the expense of African and Pacific nations. My prayer is that the EU will take note. This is the reason I have said, and I am going back to the point that even as we work with the EU, it is time for us to also look at the new kid on the block; BRICS. If we are able to tell the EU that their standards do not make sense, but we have our friends in China, Russia, India and all the BRICS nation, then they will start treating us with dignity. Some of the standards and requirements make it impossible for our potatoes, for example, to reach the European markets, and yet we are supposed to be in the same block, friends and countries that are cooperating together. I am glad that this issue was debated in that Parliament. My prayer is that the EU would note. Right now, the European Union and countries in Europe in general need new friends because the United States of America (USA) has decided that they are not going to be pandering to the EU anymore. The new administration has been very tough on them in terms of putting up, without hesitation, tariffs against their products whenever the situation calls for it. It is time for the EU to also look for new friends within the Pacific and African region. One of the things it could do, instead of creating standards that are oppressive to our export products, they should now start creating more-friendly environment for us to trade because their traditional partner, the USA, is no longer as friendly as it used to be. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with all those many remarks, I second this Report. I urge that our international engagements continue, so that the presence of Kenya, this Senate and the National Assembly is felt as it should. We should maintain our position as an influential country across the world in various fora. I beg to second. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."},{"id":1545406,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545406/?format=json","text_counter":191,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Senator."},{"id":1545407,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545407/?format=json","text_counter":192,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Question proposed)"},{"id":1545408,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545408/?format=json","text_counter":193,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":"Sen. Kinyua, proceed."},{"id":1545409,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545409/?format=json","text_counter":194,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Kinyua","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13202,"legal_name":"John Kinyua Nderitu","slug":"john-kinyua-nderitu-2"},"content":"Asante Bw. Spika wa Muda. Nashukuru kwa ripoti zilizoletwa, lakini ni kazi bure ikiwa tutafanya mikutano hii ilhali uhusiano wa biashara hauonekani kwa Wakenya ama wananchi wa nchi husika. Majukumu makubwa ya miungano yoyote inayofanywa ni kuleta manufaa kwa wananchi wa nchi husika. Hii ni kwa sababu wale waliotuchagua na kutuweka katika nyadhifa hizi wamefanya hivyo ili tuinue hali yao ya maisha. Nashukuru kwa sababu mikutano mingi 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":1545410,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545410/?format=json","text_counter":195,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Kinyua","speaker_title":"","speaker":{"id":13202,"legal_name":"John Kinyua Nderitu","slug":"john-kinyua-nderitu-2"},"content":"inayofanywa inaleta mahusiano mazuri. Vilevile inafanya nchi husika kuondoa vikwazo vya kibiashara na uhusiano. Nashukuru vile Naibu Spika wetu amesema kwamba katika mikutano aliyohusika walichagua viongozi wa nchi zingine. Huu uhusiano usionekane tu katika biashara, bali hata wakati wa shida. Ikiwa nchi jirani wana shida ama majanga, wanaweza kupata mahali ambapo pana usalama na hali nzuri. Sitaki kuongea mengi kwa sababu jambo kama hili litasaidia sana wahusika. Kwa mfano, tukitengeneza reli kutoka Mombasa, ipitie Naivasha na iende hadi Kisumu mpaka nchi jirani, itasaidia Wakenya. Kwa hivyo, ni vizuri mikutano na uhusiano huu unaoendelea uwe unawahusisha wananchi wa nchi husika. Nashukuru sana, Bw. Spika wa Muda."},{"id":1545411,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545411/?format=json","text_counter":196,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Sen. Abdul Haji","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Asante, Seneta. I call upon the Mover to reply."}]}