Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 124860,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/124860/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 231,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Kuti",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Livestock Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 60,
        "legal_name": "Mohammed Abdi Kuti",
        "slug": "mohammed-kuti"
    },
    "content": "I want to be very clear that these animals are not at the KMC; they are at a holding ground belonging to the Kenya Portland Cement. They are being held there and being given hay and water. Some of them die while we are buying them. I would like the country to know that for every dying animal, a farmer is given Kshs8,000. Therefore, we have cushioned that farmer to the tune of Kshs8,000. Mr. Speaker, Sir, what was seen in the newspapers is a very sorry situation. This is the sorry situation livestock farmers are facing right now in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I had a crisis meeting at the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) and we have so far off-taken livestock from 24 districts within 14 days. About 11,000 animals have been off-taken and 7,000 are currently at the holding ground. About 1,500 have died either at the market, en route or at the holding ground. Of course there are shortcomings because the matter is urgent. We are trying to save and buy the livestock as quickly as possible so that the losses are to the Government and not to the farmer. Therefore, we are off-taking a large number at the same time because the crisis is very serious. We found some shortcomings. For example, at the market place, there is no hay or fodder for the animals as they wait to be transported. That weakens them further and we have put into place a system to deal with that. There has also been a backlog at KMC but it must be understood that it is because of the nature of animals that we are buying. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the business of KMC is to supply the market with quality meat. I would like to assure all Kenyans and the House that the meat sold is got from ranches and other farmers who meet the minimum quality requirement by the KMC. Therefore, Kenyans are assured that even those animals that are bought through the off-take programme that do not meet the minimum quality requirement are not slaughtered. At the market place, there is a veterinary officer to vet the animals. There are those that are sick. However, being thin is not equal to being sick. It is just the reduction of flesh and fat. Those that are not sick are taken."
}