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{
    "id": 1104465,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1104465/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 215,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Bonchari, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Pavel Oimeke",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "has been dedicated to the aspect of food. I want to quickly go to the section that covers food, namely, Clause 22. It talks about manufacturing, processing, warehousing and distribution. There is definitely going to be a serious confusion with other entities that have the same mandate in terms of regulating food. When you talk about processing, take for instance when you go to a supermarket, nowadays they cook and that is food processing. If you go there, you can get French fries and bread. The aspect of requiring one to be licensed by the Kenya Food and Drugs Authority will hinder a lot of things, especially the aspects of cottage industries in this country. Therefore, as we go through the Second Reading, I propose that Dr. Pukose and the rest of the team to look at this aspect to make sure that we do not have confusion. I would also want to draw your attention to Clause 6(2), where the proposed Bill has provided for a term limit for the Director-General. Typically, I do not know why this is the case. A Director-General serves a term of three years while we have a chairman who is seconded by the President serving a term of four years. However, in this Bill, if you look at Clause 6, the Director- General has been reserved a term of four years. I will also request that Dr. Pukose looks at the amendment to make sure that the term is three years and also be explicit on the term of the chairman. The chairman, typically, serves a term of four years to make sure that there is consistency in the operations of the public service. This is meant to ensure that there is no confusion. I would also like to draw the attention of the House to Clause 77(1) (a), which talks about the National Quality Control Laboratory. That laboratory, if you look at it, has a provision of setting the standards. This mandate belongs to the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). Let us also be careful not to have cross-cutting or shared responsibilities among Government entities. Let it be clear who is responsible for what. I can see that the National Quality Control Laboratory is focusing on drugs and not food. Let us be clear about the safety of food and not the quality of food or drugs. Therefore, we need to be very clear in this Bill. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I finally draw your attention to the clause that talks about the financial aspect of the Authority. There is provision for funds to be provided from the Exchequer. However, I would prefer that that clause refers to the Public Finance Management Act, 2012. Amendments to that effect should be introduced to this Bill to make sure that there is no confusion when it comes to the financial aspects as provided in other Acts of Parliament. As it is, this Bill has an aspect of confusion in this regard. Therefore, when we come to the Third Reading, I will support the Bill with those few amendments."
}