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{
    "id": 1379741,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1379741/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 137,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Malava, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Malulu Injendi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "suffering. Hon. Temporary Speaker, besides cotton production which collapsed in the 90s, we have seen that sugarcane production has also faced the same fate. It used to boom those years, but it somehow died in western Kenya. Tea farming particularly in Vihiga also faced a similar fate. Paper production by the Pan Paper Mills also collapsed in the 1990s. Hon. Temporary Speaker, most of us may wonder why most of them collapsed. It is due to the liberalisation processes that were there in the 1990s. This got Kenya unaware in terms of managing their sectors. I am saying it with a lot of nostalgia, because Kenya was the third largest producer of cotton in East Africa. It was considered a key player in the industrialisation process of the country. We have slowed down on industrialisation, because these sectors collapsed as I have mentioned them. Hon. Temporary Speaker, during that period, we used to hear of KICOMI. It was a household name in western Kenya. We also had other gineries elsewhere that were famous for what they were doing for the country in terms of production of clothing, blankets and even employment. For those who do not know, KICOMI was Kisumu Cotton Millers. With the liberalisation in the 1980s, production began to fall. With the free markets, the prices were left to the market forces. Prices began to fall and it was not matching with the cost that farmers were using to produce. Interestingly, corruption set in during this particular time, affecting cooperatives because of brokers. This also affected producer prices and the cost of farm inputs. Pesticides became so expensive to be accessed by farmers. There was also delayed payment to farmers. Delayed payment has even been affecting Mumias Sugar Factory, a giant in sugar production and also the Nzoia Sugar Factory. Farmers have stayed for two years without any payments after making supplies. You cannot expect a farmer to continue producing when this is a happening. This collapse has caused a lot of suffering to most Kenyans, and particularly persons who are much dependent on this in western Kenya. I support this Bill fully. It is a wake-up call to reorganise the sector. This Bill will reorganise the production, processing, marketing and distribution of cotton in the country. When this is done, the beneficiaries will be the farmers and Kenya. We will reclaim our lost glory when it comes to production of our crops and the financial stability in the country. I have also noted that this Bill seeks to establish a Cotton Industry Development Board. This is key to revitalising the industry. Cotton was the first one to collapse, then sugar production in the country was next. You recall in 2010, just recently, the Kenya Sugar Board was abolished because of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. This is when we began suffering in our sugar production. In the recent Bill we passed here which is in the Senate, the Sugar Act, seeks to revive the Kenya Sugar Board, which will create control and order in sugar production sector. The establishment of this Board will go a long way in ensuring that there is order. When there is no order in a particular sector, corruption thrives and the economy loses money, and labour. As much as I have talked about cotton production affecting us as farmers, I am just citing this as a case because I come from western Kenya, where this was really key. We are aware that cotton production is suitable in twenty four counties in this country. It includes counties in Western, Rift Valley, Nyanza and even Coast region. This Bill is timely. I have some roots in the Gikomba Market, and some Members here may not believe it. I have also had a Mitumba (second hand) business. I normally visit my colleagues that we used to be with to see how their business is doing. The people in Gikomba are really suffering. The Mitumba I used to sell came from the United Kingdom (UK). Presently, the people I used to work with there are crying because Mitumba from the UK are not available. They come after three or four months, but very expensive. The only Mitumba The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}