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{
    "id": 1255506,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1255506/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 245,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Linturi",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 69,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
        "slug": "franklin-linturi"
    },
    "content": "this Parliament, to answer the question asked by the Senator for Marsabit County in regard to our duty free imports into the country. In response to (a), it was through a Cabinet direction out of a decision that was made in a Cabinet meeting. I was authorised to issue permits to import various commodities into the country in order to bring down the cost of food in the country. To that effect, the imports I authorised are as follows: (1) White shelled maize – 1.4 million metric tons which should be on 90kgs bags. (2) White milled rice. I got authority to bring in 1.1 million metric tons packaged in 50kgs bags. (3) My Ministry was also issued permits to bring in 280,000 metric tons of sugar of 50kg bags. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in response to (b), we advertised for expression of interest for those people who wanted to participate in this assignment, recognizing the fact that the Government is not spending a single coin into this. We were also trying to get private sector participation in bringing down the cost of food. For purposes of ensuring that we had many participants and for transparency, I put an advertisement in the newspapers on 14th December, 2022. Out of that advertisement, different importers from all walks of life applied. We had a total of 461 applicants. Shortlisting was done and 275 companies were responsive. We issued licenses to those 275 companies to participate in the importation of various food commodities. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I regret the late submission of the answer. Annex six to the Question has a list of all the people that were pre-qualified to import various commodities; and the quantities that were allocated to them. Question (c) is partly answered by Annex C, which gives the list of the companies that have been allowed to import maize, rice and sugar. The question that is not answered is the action I will take against the pre-qualified companies, which have not brought the permitted items. Everyone is probably aware that we have been going through difficult times and the cost of food has been high. The National Assembly had also not appropriated any money for us to use to procure food items. We then realised we needed to think outside the box and bring in private investment, partnerships or collaborations in ensuring there is sufficient food in the country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is what informed this decision of giving people permits to bring food into the country and the Government waiving duty on them as an incentive; so that food becomes available in the country. We expected to have a lot of inflow of food and the usual demand and supply would cause a balance because of the quantities and reduce the prices of food. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when this administration took over, a bag of 50kgs of rice was going for Kshs3,500 and above. I am proud to say that today, the wholesale price for the same bag is between Kshs1,800 to 2,000. This means that this importation without any"
}