HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1399285,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1399285/?format=api",
"text_counter": 275,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
},
"content": "this House have tried to usurp the powers and roles of county governments. From the beginning of the provisions of this Bill, there is clear recognition of the role of county governments, which starts in Clause 4 on the constitution of the sugar board. In Clause 5 of the Bill, there are functions of the county government that are clearly outlined, including extension services, which we used to have when we were growing up, but somehow, somewhere, they disappeared. These extension services were important in providing farmers with critical support for crop growth. They are responsible for building the road network to supply and deliver cane. This was critical. In Bungoma County, the roads that were assigned as county roads or were being used to deliver cane were well maintained. Those of us like myself and Hon. Wangwe, the Member of Parliament for Navakholo, are unfortunate that our homes are on a road that has been handed over to a contractor who is not there. The road is so terrible that I have to find panya routes through the villages. Roads maintained by the county governments and used to deliver cane are smoother than C41. I am happy that the role of county government is recognized. Clause 6 provides for nominees of county governments in this sugar board. Allow me to address this question of zoning or protection against poaching that has been provided for under Clause 19. During the task force discussions, this was a difficult debate between farmers, millers, Members of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, and the sponsors of the Bill. The Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries has said one thing that I have also experienced. We had the spectra of farmers getting inputs from specific mills. You would get fertiliser and seed cane from Nzoia Sugar. However, when the crop is ready, there are delays, and you have financial pressure to take your children to school, whoever comes with money, which is now called, poaching, would pay the farmer and go away. As a result, there were not only debts that failed you from the miller, but also the out-grower companies. This is because the fertiliser used to be distributed through the out-grower companies, for instance, the Nzoia Out-Grower Company, of which I am a member. The problem has been after the Government forgave the debts of the millers, it forgot that similar circumstances exist for out-grower companies. In this instance, I have been directed by the out-grower companies to request the Government that, just the way they forgave or waived the debts owed to the millers, we also consider waving the debts that are still on the books of the out-grower companies that arose out of similar circumstances of farmers being contracted by one miller and then selling that crop to another person. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have seen that the Bill has introduced a fine of not less than Kshs1million or three times the value of the cane, whichever is higher if you are found as a miller poaching cane. Therefore, while others might look at it as a zoning issue, we are also trying to deal with this question of poaching of cane. We have millers who do not develop any of their nuclear assets. They do not spend any time recruiting farmers to cultivate this crop, but they poach other people’s cane. Additionally, I have been informed of a spectre. When you see a sugar mill existing in an area where there is no sugar cane being grown, it always raises a red flag. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}