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{
"id": 1352978,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1352978/?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": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. From the onset, I thank you and your office, and many Senators who have contributed to the Prevention of Livestock and Produce Theft Bill 2023. I am grateful to your office for the facilitation and the Senate Business Committee (SBC) for scheduling my Bill. Before I reply, I would like to make a few comments. Allow me to recognize several colleague Senators, who were able to speak to this Bill and also appreciate and put them on record. I want to thank Sen. Tobiko, who was the Seconder of the Bill, Sen. Dullo, Sen. Cheptumo, Sen. Chute, Sen. Wambua, Sen. Chimera, Sen. Abbas, Sen. Sifuna, Sen. Thang’wa, Sen. Lemaletian, Sen. Joe Nyutu, Sen. (Dr.) Oburu, Sen. Omar, Sen. Okenyuri, Sen. Maanza, Sen. Seki, Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Sen. Ogolla, Sen. Mungatana, and Sen. Oketch Gicheru. The people of Migori, I thank you for your Senator, who was among the Senators who supported my Bill. He is doing a commendable job. I also join him in welcoming you to the Senate and hope that you will learn. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the issue of cattle rustling and banditry, including the livestock and produce continues in this country and has become not only a security issue, but it is also affecting the economy of our people. For several years, we have lost so many of our people because of cattle rustling. Somebody said on the Floor of this House that it is even dangerous to own some of this livestock. This is because the more you have livestock, the more attractive to attackers you become, especially in some parts of this country. Initially, the issue of livestock theft used to be a source of pride because people used to go attack and bring the cattle to use for bride price. We must, as a country, have an honest conversation. I thank President William Ruto because when he was in Samburu, he said that this is the administration that will fight and vanquish livestock theft, banditry and cattle rustling in this country. I have heard the concerns of Senators. To some communities, livestock is a source of pride, identity and culture. However, it is now becoming very serious even to that. I know there were reservations on this Bill. However, I inform Members that I was acting under the Fourth Schedule of our Constitution. You and I know that Agriculture is fully devolved. We have centred the role of county governments in this because Agriculture is devolved. We ask the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) that they will be in charge of registration. I have heard in this Bill that we should allow, and at the Committee of the Whole, we might bring up the issue of not prescribing fees. It should be the burden of county governments, so that they are the ones registering and branding animals. I have even heard from the Senator of Samburu County that there is a process of branding, where you use hot iron, which is cruelty to animal. I will be proposing in branding to use modern technology to identify these cows. I agree that registration of one or two goats or other livestock should be done by region, the way we have done county number plates, so that it becomes easy."
}