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{
    "id": 1086919,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1086919/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 493,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Shamalla Jennifer",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13166,
        "legal_name": "David Ole Sankok",
        "slug": "david-ole-sankok"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support and congratulate Hon. Wafula Wamunyinyi for bringing this timely and urgent Bill. With humility, it is my considered opinion that there are certain issues that we must address that are fundamental as we move to the Committee of the whole House stage. We amended the law and put the industry of sugar under the Agriculture and Food Authority, and we are now bringing it back to the sugar board. What happened in between the stages and what really are the issues bedevilling the sugar industry? Indeed, in 2016, we had 220,800 hectares of sugar. In 2017, it was 191,200, a reduction of 29,000 hectares and the reasons have been expounded here. Indeed, the issue of leasing out those factories and private entities will be taken into consideration in accordance with the framework of the public private partnership legislation that we actually just passed last week. It is important for us to recognise that we produce sugar at Kshs95,000 per tonne and yet, countries like Egypt, Malawi and Uganda produce it at Kshs35,000 per tonne. What are the reasons? These are the questions that I would appreciate that would come up when we go to the committee stage. Of course, we cannot begin to underscore the importance of discussing the cartels behind the sugar industry. It is a national issue. It is not just an issue from Bungoma, Kakamega and Homa Bay. It touches on Kwale and so many other areas and counties of this country. Moreover, let us not forget that in 2018, there was an inquiry into matters affecting the sugar industry and the report was thrown out. We must re-investigate, re-question and ask ourselves and really interrogate the issue of the cartels behind the sugar industry. With those few remarks, I once again congratulate Hon. Wafula and hope that when we get to the committee stage – and which I sincerely hope would be after closure of debate that will happen today – we can be all in agreement that we get to committee stage as soon as after recess and then we can have this Bill enacted. With those few remarks, I support."
}