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{
    "id": 1048904,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1048904/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13219,
        "legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
        "slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. First, I want to thank Sen. (Dr.) Zani for bringing this Bill to the House. While at it, Sen. (Dr.) Zani has distinguished herself as one of the most hardworking Senators. I have contributed to a number of Bills that have been sponsored by Sen. (Dr.) Zani and they are always very progressive. I remember we had a debate here on the Community Health Bill. If you read the Bills, they are always geared towards making some meaningful changes to the people that we represent. I congratulate Sen. (Dr.) Zani. This Bill is important. Its importance cannot be overemphasized more than the fact that it is trying to align itself to the provisions of our 2010 Constitution. There is no better way of supporting devolution other than passing laws that are aligned to the provisions of our 2010 Constitution, more so, issues dealing with cooperatives. Madam Deputy Speaker, some of us who were raised up in upcountry know the critical role that cooperatives have made in ensuring that some of us were able to get money to go to school. Most of the agricultural activities like farming, especially in counties where agriculture is the main stem of the economy, including where you come from, in Nandi, Bomet, and Kisii, the best way you can market milk is by forming cooperatives. That way, you are able to look for markets and do transport together. Any Bill that is geared towards strengthening the management, making registration of these cooperatives easy within counties, is something that we must support. Madam Deputy Speaker, you can imagine farmers travelling all the way from Nyamira to Nairobi to seek registration of a cooperative society, for a function that under the Fourth Schedule, is clearly a devolved function. It does not make economic sense and it is good that now that we have brought into place a County Executive Committee (CEC) Member; an officer from the county government who will be in charge of registration of our cooperatives. Madam Deputy Speaker, there is the issue of bureaucracy that is being addressed by this Bill. At times, people seek registration of cooperatives and they wait for eternity. I am impressed by the fact that this Bill has brought in place timelines, where the officials tasked with the registration of a cooperative society must make that decision within 30 days. That brings efficiency in place and also kills corruption. This is because at times, people delay registration, so that they can be seen the Kenyan way. This is good and progressive, Sen. (Dr.) Zani that, farmers will know their fate. Even where registration is denied, reasons must be given and where the farmers are not satisfied, there is a mechanism for seeking appeal. Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to point out that this Bill makes a proposal to ensure that the tribunals are professionalized because what has been happening in the past is that members who serve in tribunals--- A tribunal is a quasi- judicial body that makes decisions that have far reaching effects on farmers. However, they are picked without any meritocracy and without ensuring that people have been given an opportunity to apply, so that their suitability is checked. This Bill now proposes that the function of appointing members who will serve in these tribunals will be a preserve of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}