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{
    "id": 1379761,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1379761/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 157,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West,Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Timothy Kipchumba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this chance to contribute to this very important Bill. I rise to support it. I wish to thank Hon. Mary Emaase for this very progressive piece of legislation that seeks to implement our Constitution. Agriculture is a fully devolved function. It is part of the transformative agenda of the Kenya Kwanza Government, which is a plan it has put in place. For this country to industrialise by 2030, as it was envisaged, we must invest fully in the agriculture sector. This Bill is progressive because even though agriculture is a devolved function, ordinarily, we expect county governments to develop the legal framework. We need uniformity of laws in this country. If each county government develops a framework on the devolved areas under the Constitution, we shall have a multiplicity of competing legislation. If we go this route of having a uniform legal and institutional framework, then we shall have laws that cut across. We have had challenges since the inception of devolution. I had a chance to work in the county government before joining this House. If a function is devolved, the 47 county governments should develop their legal frameworks. For example, there is the issue of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers, which I raised sometimes back in this House. There is a disparity in curriculum, management, and remuneration. This is because we have not heeded the constitutional provision on policy. The national government should develop most of the policies on devolved functions. I support this Bill because it provides a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for the cotton industry. Even if county governments develop frameworks or laws, we shall have a standard, uniform law that guides the entire country in developing them. I agree with Hon. Mary Emaase that to develop and industrialise this country, we must invest in cotton. It is produced in the western parts of this country and also where I come from— Elgeyo Marakwet County. The challenges are the lack of markets and institutions that manage the cotton industry properly in this country. Since we will form a Board that we will cascade to the county governments, it will lead to investor confidence in cotton growing in this country. The biggest challenge that we have in this country is marketing. Our people grow cotton on a small scale, but its quality is not in tandem with what is produced outside the country. So, we need to invest in research. I am very happy because this Bill provides clearly that the Board that will be established will set up a research unit. This will ensure that we get quality and modern cotton that can compete globally or internationally in terms of markets. We should also look at subsidies like the subsidised fertilizer that we have currently. We have increased productivity in maize production. As we pass this law, we need to introduce some subsidies for cotton seeds so that our people can afford them. If possible, they can be supplied for free so that more farmers can plant them. We should set up ginneries in the respective counties that grow cotton. We may produce cotton in large quantities but lack the ginneries and markets, which are big challenges. 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"
}