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{
    "id": 1157614,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1157614/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 362,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "minds because of traditional crops. While that is something that needs to change in terms of our thinking and outlook. We must be creative and face the future boldly by making changes. This law will help us to an extent in the sugar areas. First, allow me to buttress what Sen. Wetangula said because he said I would do it. There is need to have that connection between research and production. Apart from Egerton, let us talk about the universities in that area, Masinde Muliro and Kibabii must have that research in terms of this sugar research institute that is proposed. It must be set up and domiciled in those universities. Secondly, it is good that there is going to be a sugar board, but let us not go back to the cartel that was there. Such that the people who are involved in the Board are also the importers. I am glad that they have now brought the bird’s eye view when it comes to that sugar board because of those who were involved in siting and determining on sugar imports and when they are imported. People are fond of creating artificial sugar shortage. We know people who have done that in the past, but I will not mention their names, some have been governors, etcetera. We know people while they have been in charge of sugar they were also the ones profiting by importing and repackaging. That is criminal. I travelled with a friend of mine to Western who has never been to that part of the country. He said, ‘Why do you people complain about? There are so many good roads.’ I told him you are seeing this road, but look at the people. You can see poverty in people’s faces. You can see mud houses, grass-thatched, next to a tarmac road. That tells you that there is poverty. You will not see that in other parts of the country. It just speaks about poverty. It is a big shame I am glad that the Board shall ensure that there is a bird’s eye view from the sugar industry, farmers et cetera on the importation of sugar. So, that when we say we are opening this window for this quantity and amount it is clear it is not just a way to bankroll. We need to really look at where is the best and most appropriate conditions for you to grow sugar so that you have the best sucrose content, the highest yields and resistance to crop diseases. Unless we do so, we are going to be in a vicious cycle in this industry. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Arbitration Tribunal needs to be completely devolved. We cannot have the arbitration tribunal in Nairobi. This tribunal needs to be devolved into the areas where these farmers, the poor farmers who unless they are in those cooperatives cannot find a way to access this tribunal can have their disputes listened to. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, additionally, I want to contribute until I finish. We need to make sure that the composition, in as much as it is devolved, a lot of these is the national Government, but the composition---. I hope we can bring amendments and put more efforts into county governments. This is happening within those counties. We have seen the politics that have come in. I would want us to divorce politics from the discussion on sugar. These are livelihood issues."
}