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{
    "id": 1242760,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1242760/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Our students should learn about the issue of quorum. According to Standing Order No. 39, we should have a minimum of 15 Senators in the House to allow business of the House to proceed. I was raising the issue of Clause 23(1) (d), on the role of county governments. It states- “Regulate the cutting or destruction of cotton in order to conserve and protect the resources devoted to the cotton industry in the respective county” This is one of the colonials and relic sections of the law that was in the Tea Act. I hope and pray that Clause 23(1) (d) be deleted, amended or rephrased by the author, Sen. Beth Syengo. It was under the Tea Act and we fought it because we grow tea in Nandi Hills, Aldai and many other parts of Nandi. We struggled because when you cut down even one plant, the law said that you could be arrested. The colonialists had their own thinking by forcing us to plant tea, among other crops. Madam Temporary Speaker, as you are aware, tea has become a problem across the country. Most of our people were evicted and lost land. That is why we have historical land injustices, especially in tea growing areas, including Nandi County. Therefore, this section of the law evokes sad memories of people like Dedan Kimathi, Koitalel Arap Samoei, Mekatilili wa Menza, among others who fought for our freedom. Respectively, let us relook this clause. Clause 23(2) (j) states that- “in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, enhance security in cotton growing areas”. I do not know why there is the importation of that part of the law. I am only aware that people are stealing coffee sacks and beans from certain parts of this country. I do not want to mention the region so that I do not appear to be profiling certain regions. In Chepkube, big names were mentioned to the highest office in the land those days, on what was happening in Uganda, especially on the issue of coffee. I do not know why you should need collaboration of security agencies for this crop and yet it is not a threat. It cannot be used scientifically to create a biological warfare or weapons of mass destruction. Madam Temporary Speaker, the importation of that part of the law by the author should be relooked at or re-worded. This is because we might think that cotton is like gold."
}