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{
    "id": 1057838,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1057838/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 41,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wambua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13199,
        "legal_name": "Enoch Kiio Wambua",
        "slug": "enoch-kiio-wambua"
    },
    "content": "However, it does not even stop there. The pandemic has also seriously shrunk incomes across businesses and the corporate world. The purchasing power by many Kenyans, if not all, has seriously and greatly been affected by this pandemic. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it shall be remembered that initially when this pandemic landed in our country, the President - and I really want to thank him - issued directives through the National Treasury for tax reliefs for many people. Those reliefs really helped. However, those cushions have now been lifted at a time when the pandemic is hitting even harder, making the life of Kenyans miserable. I want to ride on that Statement and make a very passionate appeal to the National Treasury. Look for means and ways of cushioning Kenyans against this pandemic. This pandemic could not have come at a worse time. Today, this country has been invaded by hundreds of millions of locusts. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I just came from the villages in Kitui County today. The devastation by locusts is amazing. These pests are not just consuming food crops; they are actually feasting seriously on pasture. That affects directly the ability of farmers to produce and put food on the table. Also, the pastures available for livestock are diminishing at a very high and alarming rate. There is a point that then we need to begin to ask ourselves: what became of our national Strategic Grain Reserve Programme? At a time like this is when we should be seeing Government agencies and cushion to Kenyans across the country, who have been affected by this pandemic. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I conclude, all efforts aimed at ensuring food security must put the Kenyan farmer at the center of this conversation. For as long as the Kenyan farmer is not secure, this country cannot be food secure. Lastly, I echo the words and contribution by Sen. Nyamunga on the issue of seriously addressing the school feeding programmes. This is so that we have food available to children in schools at all times. In which case then, there will be need to push our farmers to grow and produce more to feed Kenyans at home and our children in schools. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I support."
}