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{
    "id": 1012645,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1012645/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 324,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Narok North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Richard ole Kenta",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 420,
        "legal_name": "Richard Moitalel ole Kenta",
        "slug": "richard-moitalel-ole-kenta"
    },
    "content": "Further, during the scrutiny, Kenafric Industries Limited, a company adversely mentioned in the Report by the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, appealed that they had not been accorded an opportunity to be heard. The Speaker directed this Committee to act as an appellate forum. After consideration of the matter, the Committee tabled a report recommending to the House to review its earlier decision and expunge the name of Kenafric Industries Limited from its records. The same happened with the Shree Sai Industries. Unfortunately, it came to light that most of the people mentioned were never accorded a hearing. Parliament should in future ensure that anybody mentioned should be accorded a fair hearing to ensure that nobody thinks that Parliament or this House is there to settle scores with anybody or treat any Kenyan in a way they are not supposed to. Of concern to the Committee was the revelation by some implementing agencies that they were unable to attend to whatever was directed at them simply because they never received the Report! I take this opportunity to advise Parliament to ensure that anybody who is supposed to implement any resolution of this House should be given a copy of the resolution and the decision arrived at by Parliament to ensure that we do not act in vain. In light of the submissions received and the observations made, the Committee recommends that: (1) There is need for an inter-agency task force to promptly invite the Sugar Directorate and the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) to be members of the inter-agency unit because of their critical role in the agricultural and sugar industries whose importance cannot be gainsaid. Further, the legal status of the inter-agency task force should be cleared by expeditiously publishing it in the Kenya Gazette. This will make it legal and ensure that whatever passes is enforceable. (2) Public millers are also encouraged to form associations and information sharing platforms to curb the issue of farmers holding more than one contract with millers. You will find that a farmer gives one miller a contract and goes to another one such that there is always conflict of interest. (3) Land belonging to any public miller and where cane is grown should revert to the communities in the event of privatisation of millers. It is well known that most of those lands are taken from communities. They were supposed to assist those communities in their economic activities and livelihoods. Unfortunately, it has become a poisoned chalice such that outsiders come, exploit those lands and ensure that the mills are run down for purposes of destroying them with an intention to grab those lands. The Committee strongly insists that the most important thing is that if those mills are unable to run, the lands should revert back to the communities because those lands were given out by the communities to benefit them and not exploiters, which we realised is happening in Western Kenya. Communities have been destroyed by greedy land grabbers, sugar importers and by the worst that this country can give the world. (4) The Sugar Development Levy directed to sugar-cane development, factory maintenance, research and extension services and road infrastructure should be reinstated with a clear management structure and review of its functions. Originally, roads were accessible to farmers and produce could reach the market as fast as possible. That Road Maintenance Levy was removed to the detriment of the farmer. 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."
}