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{
    "id": 1257731,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1257731/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Not everybody can plant mung beans. However, as the Bill proposes, we have to ensure that there is access to the international mung bean market. When you walk to any supermarket you will get different types of mung bean because they are produced differently. We need to deal with the issue of clutter during high season of the mung bean in Kitui and other parts of the country. We need to reopen strategic grain reserves because at the moment they are closed. This is why the price of unga is different depending on which brand you consume. There is unga that costs Kshs150 and another that costs Kshs238. The difference in prices is as a result of the absence of a strategic grain reserve. When we have an excess of maize, mung bean, cassava, millet and the rest of the food, we can put them in a strategic grain reserve. Two years ago the strategic grain reserves were closed down. We need to reopen so that the mung beans in high season can be stored. We should also allow proper storage of the produce since we are starting the aggregation centers. The first Budget of His Excellency President (Dr.) William Ruto has appropriated funds for aggregation centers. This will ensure that our produce does not spoil. We should be aware that top countries like India, Bahrain, China and Indonesia – I do not know the pronunciation of that country’s name. I am happy that Kenya features prominently as part of the production of mung beans in Africa. In the world, Thailand and India rank highly. My last point will be on the school feeding program. I am happy about this program. The Governor of Nairobi County, Sen. Sakaja broke down when they were launching the programme in Roysambu. Even Jesus wept. It is not an offense to weep. The governors and all the stakeholders must take charge and ensure this program is devolved. I am happy that the President has recommended this. There are very many stakeholders willing to partner with the Government. I would be happy to see children in the Speaker’s gallery having the opportunity of consuming a meal. We cannot ask them questions but from the way they are smiling, they not only like meat, they like mung beans too. On the issue of nutrition, we need to see the school feeding programme in Kilifi County. Research has shown that learners miss school because of hunger. People assume that since Nairobi County generates 60 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, it is the land of honey and milk. There is a problem in this city. There is urban poverty. When we were passing the formula for revenue sharing among counties as recommended by the Commission of Revenue Authority (CRA), we fought as one for counties that were gaining allocation. We realised that Nairobi has high poverty index than some of the counties. The urban poor come from slums. The school feeding programme will entice enrolment and attendance in schools. This is a genius proposal by Sen. Wambua. We should ensure that we get quality mung beans the same way we emphasise on maize and other crops. Once the program is rolled out in your school, I hope the students will improve their school attendance and performance. An interesting fact about Kenya is that an average age of a farmer in Kenya is 60 years. A further interesting fact is that the life expectancy in Kenya is 65 years. You are a farmer for 5 years before you go to heaven."
}