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{
    "id": 1227456,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1227456/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 164,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "As soon as I saw that, I went ahead and started doing some research on why the distinguished Senator was really perturbed. I realised that sometimes we make legislation that kills this economy and promote brokers, cartels or a cabal. As I speak, about 90 per cent of the macadamia crop which is produced in Kenya is for export. When I heard my good friend, the Senator for Makueni, Sen. Maanzo, saying that Kenyans cannot produce and sell directly to the export market, I wondered what exactly we are doing. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I hope that when you commit that to the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the first thing they will do is to propose amendments to the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Act which I believe was passed by a few cartels. Currently, Kenya is the second largest producer of macadamia in Africa and the third largest producer in the world. There is no reason why the people of Kirinyaga should not be dancing all the way to the bank with billions of shillings. Currently, the price is between Kshs90 and Kshs120 per kilogramme. My colleague here was lamenting that farmers are being given up to Kshs20 per kilogramme. Some of these issues are killing our economy. So, I would like the committee to explore and carry out a serious survey of how many farmers in all the 47 counties, particularly counties in the central region, grow macadamia. We are talking about doing value addition. I know my colleague was lamenting because one company in Naivasha sells a small packet of macadamia for about Kshs1,000. We need to find a way such that even the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development can bring farmers together. The current CS for Agriculture and Livestock Development is a former colleague. He should bring farmers together and ensure that they are allowed to export the nuts directly to other countries. Currently, some of us are exporting products without having to seek authority from the CS. Why should we then set aside a particular crop just to benefit a cabal? Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a fantastic Statement which I fully support. I hope we will help our farmers resolve the problem. I thank you."
}