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{
    "id": 1371252,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1371252/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 245,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "who has put in all the energy in the growing of coffee can actually benefit from the labor of his work. There are very stringent requirements in terms of allowing for the movement of coffee from one place to another. We have had people who are just plain thieves. They wait for people to do all the work and then they break in. It was all over in the media at some point where farmers used to just wake up and find the coffee factory has been raided and they have lost this number of bags. Under this arrangement, it is now going to be very difficult because there is a tracing capacity that is created. This is so that you do not just walk in with coffee from anywhere to sell, you have to explain its origin. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Committee needs to look at my proposal in this Clause. I am looking at the provisions that require a person, who is a buyer not to be a miller, a broker, or an agent. They have provided for a very small punishment for contravention of those provisions. They have said this person will be contravening the law and will be subjected to a fine not exceeding Kshs1 million or twice the value of a coffee or coffee product, whichever is greater; or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or more. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, a Kshs1 million fine for a person who is doing business that will give him Kshs20 million or Kshs50 million? By seeking that contravention, Kshs1 million is not enough. I propose to the Chairperson to consider enhancing this penalty to at least to Kshs5 million. Jailing them for two years is okay. However, they must enhance the fine so that we can start streamlining the coffee industry for it to be productive for the normal person, who produces this product. We need to realise that for us to remain competitive in the international market, research must be there. So, I am very happy that they have set up the Coffee Research Institute (CRI). I listened carefully to the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries while he was moving the Bill. He said that when they went to Colombia, they visited the research institute there where they have developed over 400 varieties. Some of the varieties in Colombia can even grow to the height where you are comfortable to pick. That is the kind of innovation and research that we are talking about. We would like to support this research initiative that has been put there, so that we can continue to develop our industry. We need to make it productive, resistant to any insect infestation and make it competitive in getting the proper kind of pricing that it requires."
}