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{
    "id": 1425786,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1425786/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mithika Linturi",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 69,
        "legal_name": "Franklin Mithika Linturi",
        "slug": "franklin-linturi"
    },
    "content": "Government agency. It is doing a very good job under the leadership of the Major- General and making profits for the first time. You do not take years to be paid after taking your animals to KMC. I ask our livestock farmers not to bother much looking for market for their livestock. Once your livestock is of age, talk to KMC, get a movement permit and take your ng'ombe there. They will be bought instantly. We already have market for our livestock. You will not take beyond 72 hours to be paid. They do not require any money from Government to pay you. It is a commercial enterprise that is running well and generating revenue. I am looking forward to when we will have paid all those debts and will be paying money back to the Exchequer. That is the position. People from the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties, those that are keeping livestock, we have a market that is assured. We do not have to be afraid. Their prices are very good. The process of identifying the value is on grading. The grading system is what is paying farmers at KMC. If you have kept your animal well and is of good quality, you will fetch a better price than anyone else who has not done so. That recognizes and rewards good work and proper animal husbandry. Therefore, KMC is there to stay because it is doing a good job. It is buying animals from our farmers and paying us in good time. The Senator of Uasin Gishu asked about coolers. We have talked about coolers for quite some time. We intend to actualize this dream in the shortest time possible, possibly before the end of the year. At times, some things are beyond our control. When I took over the Ministry, this project had been there for quite a long time. You know this is a pet project for the President because we want to create value to ensure that milk from our farmers is not spoilt. They need to have these coolers. We were not very fortunate because this is a Polish-tied credit between Poland and Kenya. National Treasury had sent money to my Ministry to pay and meet our bargain. Before we could conclude, there was a change of guard in Poland and the government changed. It then became difficult for us to continue with that programme because they said they required time to do an audit of the projects that the former administration had got itself into. This gave us a serious setback and that is where we are. However, we have now agreed that the Prime Cabinet Secretary will be leading a delegation to Poland next month so that we can see whether we can sort out this matter with the Polish Government to restart the process of availing coolers to our farmers. That is the position. We regret the delay. How I wish Kenyans were paying enough taxes that we would be able to finance our projects and not beg throughout. We have to bear with the situation. That is where we are as of now. However, I am sure we will be able to provide coolers to our farmers. The faster it is done, the happier I will be. Our farmers have done what they are supposed to do. Milk production has increased in the country. So, I ask leaders to also give us support, so that at least we do not discourage our farmers. However, leave it to us. Let us see what comes out of the meeting we are going to have in Poland. We will be able to solve this problem. Thank you."
}