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{
    "id": 1003618,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1003618/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 41,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I support the Statement by the distinguished Senator for Migori County. In addition to what he has asked, the Committee should also bring to this House the outcome of the taskforce that was set up by the President to look into the woes of the sugar industry that was co-chaired by the Governor of Kakamega County and the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Agriculture. Equally important, and Sen.(Prof.) Ongeri can bear me out on this, in 2012, the Cabinet of former President Kibaki approved and wrote off all outstanding public debts to sugar factories in this country. That Cabinet approval was brought to Parliament by way of a Motion by the then Minister for Finance, Hon. Robinson Githae. Parliament approved that debt write-off. To date, the sugar factories still have those debts that were written off by both Parliament and the Cabinet in their books continuing to accrue interest and weighing down very heavily on the value of their assets. I was amused to hear yesterday the Governor of Kakamega County, who co- chaired the taskforce, is running all over playing politics with the outcome of that taskforce and promising Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) that if they tow his line, he will waive the debts owed by the sugar factories, an authority that he does not have. Can the Committee look into this? In addition to what the distinguished Senator for Narok County said, probity, accountability and transparent management of public resources is very important. That must be looked at. The institutions of governance in the country must also look at how public enterprises in which money from the tax payer is sunk every other time are run, so that we do not have public enterprises being gravy trains for individuals against whom no action is taken. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker."
}