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{
    "id": 1257842,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1257842/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 293,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Thang’wa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when I did my research on the issue of ndengu, I was asking myself where it comes from. I realised that 95 per cent of ndengu comes from Kitui, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Machakos, Meru and Embu counties. Therefore, we need this law. The only problem I have with this law and Sen. Wambua should note that, is the creation of this committee. I do not know whether there is a template because there are many laws that create committees. I am raising this issue because the creation of committees, without knowing, is the creation of cartels. The moment you create a committee to focus on a market that was free before, then you have given power to a few people to manage a whole group. What can be done is that county governments have channels, departments, employees and extension officers. They should come up with ways to manage the whole process, rather than the formation of a committee of a few individuals. The committee says that they need to include somebody who is in this business. The moment you get that person who is doing that business and uplift them above everyone else that is where the cartels begin. Ask those people who are in the coffee industry. When you form a body that is supposed to do a certain task that was not done before, you give power to people who do not have the business of production or farming at heart, for example, of ndengu. They will use that opportunity to form cartels that deters other from growing this crop. The Bill is tasking the Council of Governors (CoGs) to make sure that counties improve the production. This is good because agriculture is devolved. Kenya being an agricultural nation; the taskforce should be tasked, forced and pushed to make sure they improve on agriculture. However, before they do so they need to do research on where the market is going to be. Research on other benefits of ndengu other than their nutritional value. Maybe, they are also medicinal value and we do not know. I read that it helps with weight loss and lowering cholesterol. They need to do research. If they do the research and certify this, I believe everybody will go to the shops to buy ndengu because it prevents heart diseases and fights cancer. The article that gave me this information was online. However, is it true? We are asking the county and national governments together with the governors to do research and ascertain these claims so that people will have an idea of what the benefits of ndengu are. Of course, it is food but we need to know more. I had a friend who goes to uji joints. He knows all the uji joints in Kiambu County. The only reason he goes there is because he was told that if he took that uji it would give him some “powers”. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not want to go to that direction. I know you understand what I mean. Maybe, this crop has the same. If you go to Yaya Centre there is a shop just close to the building that sells Chinese products that have ndengu juice. I am not promoting the shop. I hope the Senator for Kitui County is listening to this. Maybe, tomorrow I can go to the shop and bring it for you. I had to buy and drink and it was good."
}