Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1255544,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1255544/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 283,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I appreciate the answers that the Cabinet Secretary has given more so on what we are doing as a country. This is because it is embarrassing that we are gathered here in the 21st century - a big economy in this region - and still debating about importation. His answers needs to be more reassuring on what we are doing for us to stop relying on farmers from other regions. The long and short of what we are discussing here is how are we procuring from other farmers? We are not short of land, water and people to cultivate. That is what we expect to be discussing in the next few months. I have a supplementary question, something that the Cabinet Secretary had not been prepared for. However, we have always told them to be prepared when appearing before the House. My question is that we passed the Tea Amendment Bill here in 2020. Subsequently, the people that we had a dispute with moved to court together with the many players in the industry such as East African Tea Trade, KTDA and likes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is a new administration that came into office, specifically the directors of Kenya Tea Development Agency Limited (KTDA) who are in office courtesy of that particular Bill. Unfortunately, they have refused to withdraw the cases that were filed by the ousted directors. Principally, all the 60 plus KTDA managed tea factories belonging to our farmers would only pay 1.5 per cent of their gross as management fee because they continue to enjoy the benefits as it is. I want an assurance from the Cabinet Secretary on when he intends to crack the whip, as a leader in charge of that particular Ministry, to have a sitting with those directors. I know that they are beneficiaries of an Act that was passed in this House. They cannot on one hand enjoy being in office while on the other hand seek the protection of the courts not to pass the benefits to the farmers. I want that particular assurance from the Cabinet Secretary so that we know which way to proceed. If these directors are not keen on withdrawing the case, then let us go to the election and elect fresh directors who still believe in the tea reform movement. I thank you."
}