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{
    "id": 1183836,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1183836/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 244,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13599,
        "legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
        "slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
    },
    "content": "These were the proposals that we had made. I have always argued that if something makes sense like on this particular issue, it does not matter which political persuasion you fall under. It does not matter which political persuasion you belong to. It is a fact that we need to protect our farmers. We must do something about the current situation to avert future food crises. I believe that our colleagues on the Majority Side will agree with us that some of the proposals that we made are positive to encourage the production of food. We both spoke about guaranteed minimum returns when we were campaigning. I heard the current President promise that this is going to be a key pillar of his administration. We also promised the same. We, therefore, do not understand where they have departed from the promises that they made to Wananchi. We also spoke strongly about the need for agro-processing. In fact, when we start infusing value into the products that come from our farms, we will see more profitability from this exercise and our farmers will be more encouraged to produce. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, lastly let me address this question of the attitude that we are seeing from the Government in the face of all these complains and cries by Kenyans that we need a conversation about this food importation before it is done. If you look at our Constitution, Article 73(1)(a)(iii) and (b), it says that – “Authority assigned to a State officer- (a) is a public trust to be exercised in a manner that- (iii) demonstrates respect for the people.” Then 73(b), goes on to say that - ‘vests in the State officer the responsibility to serve the people, rather than the power to rule them.” In light of all our cries as the representatives of the people. In light of the cries of the church and the farmers, how can a Government continue hard headedly proceed with a program that is being met with resistance and concerns from the people of Kenya?"
}