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{
"id": 1497222,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497222/?format=api",
"text_counter": 217,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tigania West, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1497223,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497223/?format=api",
"text_counter": 218,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Melly, Member for Tinderet. Hon. Kawanjiku, you gave up? You were next."
},
{
"id": 1497224,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497224/?format=api",
"text_counter": 219,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Bill. This is a very important Bill for our country and, more importantly, for the socio- economic development of our nation. The co-operative movement in this country was a very powerful movement in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Its contribution to the economy cannot be gainsaid. On that particular issue, this Bill addresses some of the ills that have affected the co- operative sector for long. In my constituency and county, the co-operative movement is so huge especially in the coffee and sugar sectors, and even in the milk industry. More importantly, it is the members of co-operatives from the yesteryears themselves, who were able to actually come together and buy farm machinery. Let me go straight away to the various parts of the Bill which seek to actually re-establish the co-operative movement as a force to reckon with in terms of economy and even social development. In fact, Part II of the Bill proposes to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Co- operative Development at the national level and the Office of the Director of Co-operatives at"
},
{
"id": 1497225,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497225/?format=api",
"text_counter": 220,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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": 1497226,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497226/?format=api",
"text_counter": 221,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": null,
"content": "the county level. It goes on to explain what those two offices will do so as to promote the co- operative movement. This is very important because it also goes further to show the various structures or levels of co-operatives. In this country, we have the primary co-operatives which are actually the small co-operatives in the rural sector. We have the secondary co-operatives societies, the federation of co-operatives, the apex co-operatives, and even those which come together and are engaged in activities that promote socio-economic development. In the coffee and sugar-cane sectors, through the well managed co-operative sector, farmers have been able to pay fees for their children and medical bills. They can even move on further and engage in savings and credit in the housing sector. One of the things that this Bill tries to address is the issue of registration of co-operatives, that is in Part IV, which deals with the procedures for registration, amendment of by-laws and protection of co-operatives and Savings and Credit Co-operative Organisation (SACCO) identity. One of the things that is affecting co-operators and more importantly in the SACCOs, is the issue of registration, by- laws and by extension, how the co-operators are going to be protected against scrupulous individuals. The by-laws which have been established in this particular Bill are very explicit on the membership, registration and, more importantly, on how to guard the sector from bad practices. Part IV provides for the rights and liabilities of members. The provision also includes the qualification for membership, share capital and transfer of shares. We have a number of co- operative societies in this country that have actually collapsed due to transfer of shares fraudulently by the leadership of SACCOs. They have also collapsed because the membership is not very clear because the register of co-operators is also not clear. I participate because I am a member of the co-operative movement. In this case, the individuals who are involved in this, especially the leaders of the society... When a SACCO has been registered, the membership has to be kept in a very good register. It has to be kept by the Commissioner of Co-operatives and the shares of that particular co-operative cannot be changed anyhow which has actually led to some members losing what they have because of lack of that particular clause. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Part VI of the Bill provides for the duties of co-operatives which includes the responsibility to maintain actual physical locations. We have what we call briefcase co-operatives which do not have offices or physical addresses. Hon. Deputy Speaker, there is a lot of importance on the physical address. Many people, sometimes, take it for granted as to why we need a physical office. It is for the members to know a place and time to meet regularly. In the many instances where briefcase co-operatives have been established, members have been swindled. In this case, the Bill provides for the actual physical location, copies of the Act, by-laws and preparation of the budget and books of accounts. All those particulars are very important. A co-operative cannot be run by word of mouth and, therefore, all the audited accounts should be provided to the members. This Bill is very important because as the members sit and invest, they should know that all those verifiable documents, like the books of accounts and all that the Savings and Credit Co-operative Organization (SACCO) is doing, are there. On the other issue…"
},
{
"id": 1497227,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497227/?format=api",
"text_counter": 222,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Hon. Silvanus Osoro consulted loudly)"
},
{
"id": 1497228,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497228/?format=api",
"text_counter": 223,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Hon. Deputy Speaker, protect me from the Whip of the Majority Party. He looks like he is not interested in the co-operative movement. You moved the Bill, but allow us to tell the public the importance of this Bill. You have a very good document and that is why there is a need to tell the public the reasons to support it."
},
{
"id": 1497229,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497229/?format=api",
"text_counter": 224,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": null,
"content": "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": 1497230,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497230/?format=api",
"text_counter": 225,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tinderet, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Julius Melly",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Part VIII of the Bill provides for the procedures for the amalgamation and division of co-operatives, including primary and secondary co-operatives, a more solid resolution, certification, creditors, distributions of assets and liabilities and the role of the Commissioner of Co-operatives. This is an aspect where, at times, co-operatives merge. I say this as a member and a leader in the co-operative movement. Some small co-operatives merge because of their economies of scale. We have seen a number of splinter co-operatives getting out of the big ones. We want to advise the crop-based co-operatives, the housing-based co-operatives and even the salaried or what we call the Sacco-based co-operatives that it is good for them to merge and when they do that, they should know and ensure that their rights, privileges and even what they are owed, are always protected because of this part of the Bill. With those many remarks, this Bill is very important for our economy and more importantly, for the development of the co-operative sector. In counties, when it comes to areas like agriculture, co-operatives are very vital in the devolution movement. The creation of the Co-operative Technical Forum Committee, which is a Government relations committee, will enable the national Government and the county government to relate well, especially in improving the co-operative movement in this country. I support this Bill. Thank you."
},
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"id": 1497231,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497231/?format=api",
"text_counter": 226,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The Hon. Member for Likoni, Hon. Mishi Mboko."
}
]
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