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{
"id": 1347420,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1347420/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
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"speaker": {
"id": 13217,
"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Tea (Amendment) Bill of 2023 by Sen. Wakili Sigei. I want Members to listen to this. Let me give you the statistics. Nandi, Bomet and Kericho Counties produce 46 per cent of the tea in this country. This is because we still have huge tracks of land and many opportunities. In fact, Kiambu, Kisii and Nyamira and other counties, plant tea but there are densely populated. It is only Nandi, Bomet and Kericho that product 46 per cent which is contributes to two per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country. That is why some of us have been pushing for complete construction of Kerenga Airstrip in Kericho so that we can be able to directly fly our tea outside the country. Unfortunately, as at now, Kerenga Airstrip is already flooded because it is yet to be completed and does not allow our tea farmers from Kericho, Nandi and Bomet to export directly. For us, in Nandi, Eldoret International Airport is a bit nearer. Therefore, we can export directly. However, for Bomet and Kericho, Kerenga Airstrip would be a good place to export tea. It is incomplete and flooded. Nowadays, in the social media, people call it Kerenga Lake International Airstrip, a misnomer that is being used. We need to also diversify the imports of tea like Pakistan which is the biggest importer of tea in Kenya. When Hamas and Palestine are having a problem, what is the way forward? Iran and other countries like the Kenyan tea. If you have travelled across the world, you know that Kenyan tea is the best. It has a unique taste because of good climate and soil condition. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just wanted to raise a few issues. I remember at some point, my brother Governor Professor Hillary Barchok, the governor of Bomet, wanted to travel to Iran to do direct sales of tea. However, because of many obstacles including cartels in this town and in the Ministry, the county government of Bomet could not do direct sales on behalf of the farmers. I am happy that this amendment is talking about direct sales. You only need to register. Even on the sale of tea proceeds, we are either going to do sales by auction or direct sales. Whichever is the highest is what the tea factories will go with. This is a blessing to counties like Bomet who had such initiative. I am not sure but I heard Meru, Kericho and Nandi counties also wanted to do direct sales. If these direct sales are encouraged, the county governments of Bomet, Kericho, Nandi will be keen since 46 percent of tea produce come from these regions. We support the amendment on direct sales of tea, because it will assist farmers. Clause 36(b) says- “The proceeds from the sale of tea, whether through auction or through direct sales, shall be deposited in a direct settlement system.” To us, tea is everything. Where I come from especially in Nandi Sub-county, we majorly grow tea. We have many multinationals and private outgrowers. There is one led by Mr. Kosgei, with one or two factories, one in Kaptumo and another around Cheptabach within Nandi Hills. In fact, when the President was the Deputy President, he went to open their building in Nandi Hills town. Many people in that area depend on tea. Almost the entire"
}