Amos Kimunya

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 791 to 800 of 6175.

• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: With those remarks, I beg to reply. view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Kenya Industrial Research Institute Bill (National Assembly Bill No.44 of 2020) be now read a Second Time. view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: The overarching objective of this Bill is to give some legal recognition to a very important research institute that is currently hanging as an appendage of ministries, and at times it is not quite sure what it does. Its anchorage does not give it the gravitas to do what it needs to. As we may remember back in 1942, the colonial Government established a central laboratory at Kabete, in Nairobi. It had an aim of initiating and developing industries to relieve the shortage of industrial goods as part of mitigation to the effects of the 2nd World War. There were ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: Fast forward to the 1970s, unfortunately the East Africa Community collapsed and Kenya passed a Science and Technology Act, Cap.250, with the mandate to conduct research on industrial and applied technology, which included civil engineering, mechanical engineering, textile technology, electrical engineering, mining, power resources, chemical engineering, industrial chemical food technology, ceramics clay technology and all those things. With the collapse of the East African Community, Kenya had to continue moving on with research and industrial development initiatives. This continued until 2013. In cleaning up most of those laws, especially within the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Science and Technology ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, considering the historical development of the Institute, the intent of this Bill is to rectify some of the loopholes that were left in 2013 when the House repealed the then establishing statute. The Bill intends to give legal recognition to the Institute to empower it and guide its existence, to give it its proper mandate and guide its operations. As I mentioned, currently, it is not properly guided by law. It is not quite clear how the Director-General will be appointed. It is not clear whether the current law recognizes the Institute as a body corporate ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: We know governments are now supporting research, especially with lots of grants and agencies. The United States of America (USA) has the National Science Foundation (NSF). The USA has research and development tax credits that are very common there. Besides the monetary support, governments are also keen on establishing government oriented research and innovation centres that complement research emanating from universities. We cannot effectively recover from the effects of COVID-19 without research and innovation, and doing things in a slightly better way than we have done in the past. Hence, giving bodies like KIRDI more authority to define their status ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: barriers and giving bodies like KIRDI the operational independence they need so that they can take this country to the next level. I listened to His Excellency the President addressing a meeting in South Africa in the presence of his host, President Ramaphosa. He mentioned the whole issue of why Africa should be moving and working together, and not competing against each other just because some boundaries were drawn by some colonialists and separated us. He talked of how we need to do an integrated African trade. Much as we are removing the boundaries through Africa wide trade, we are ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: Sure, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. In terms of the wider role of KIRDI, we are expanding what they can do. Previously, they were doing up to ceramics power resources mining technology. Now, especially for Members from livestock keeping areas, leather technology is being added as one of their mandates. As I said, leather technology is not necessarily confined to hides and skins. We have seen them making things using fish skins, which are turned into handbags and other things. I am glad that Hon. Nyikal has come in because he can talk about KIRDI and innovation better than me. I ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: fit for the market. Universities will also become centres of innovation, which is what happens in the West. The other thing is that right now, we have so many policies on industrial research and development that seem to disappear in the shelves. KIRDI will be part of facilitating the implementation of such policies, among other things. Most importantly, under this law, KIRDI will be mandated to establish industrial technology transfer centres. Whatever technologies are developed will be taken to the market for uptake by youth centres. There will also be an industrial technology depository, where people will be able to ... view
• 24 Nov 2021 in National Assembly: Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I am delighted this evening because when I moved this Bill and it was seconded, there was only one Member who had indicated an interest to contribute. Gradually, the numbers grew and for the last three hours, we have been discussing this Bill which shows the interest that this House has had in this Bill. There is general concurrence and consensus that KIRDI and research institutions are important and they should be empowered to do what they should be doing. Apart from the legal empowerment, we also need to give them financial empowerment. I ... view