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{
    "id": 1338633,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1338633/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 218,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mbeere North, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ruku GK",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I rise to reject this Motion. This country ratified the COMESA Free Trade Area Agreement which allows us to import goods and services within the COMESA Region. One of the key imports is sugar. We use sugar on a day-to-day basis in our houses. If this House decides to come up with restrictions or regulations which hinder the smooth implementation of some of these agreements within the COMESA Region, then we will not be doing justice to Kenyans. The cost of farm inputs for sugar and other agricultural crops demands that we come up with more innovative strategies on how to lower the cost of production. This will make our sugar competitive within the country and the region. Farm inputs like fertiliser and pesticides should be subsidised. On the mechanisation of farming, imported farm equipment should also be subsidised. The Government of Kenya should have exchange programmes with other countries so that imported machinery can be cheaper either by waiving some taxes or even producing the machines in the country. In the end, this will lower the cost of production for sugarcane thus lowering the cost of sugar. I ask the House to be more innovative. A few weeks ago, we passed the Sugar Bill. It would be prudent for us to wait and see how this law on sugar will be implemented and how it will shape the industry. If we come up with another regulation on top of what we passed one week ago, then we will be doing a disservice to the people. For those reasons, it is prudent for this House to reject this Motion. We should give space for the Bill, which has been enacted, to be implemented. We should also not breach the COMESA Free Trade Area Agreement signed by our nation. Therefore, I reject the Motion. Thank you."
}