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{
"id": 1472419,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1472419/?format=api",
"text_counter": 115,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
"speaker": null,
"content": "be cleaned and this can only happen if it is either rejected or massive amendments are made to it. I have two reasons why I oppose it. Firstly, is lack of public participation. Unfortunately, the name mung beans is not suitable. Any Kenyan hearing us debating this is wondering what this is. This name is foreign to us. ndengu is the popular name or green grams in proper English. A new name has come up defining these beans, which is foreign to all of us. Therefore, it should be titled the Ndengu Bill, so that most people can know the law we are formulating relates to which crop. Kenyans out there would like to make a follow-up on what we are saying. If we are to amend this Bill, its title should be the Ndengu Bill. Secondly, from the Committee’s observations, it is noted that ndengu is grown in some counties in the eastern region of the country, namely, Kitui, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi, Machakos, Embu, Meru, Taita Taveta and Kirinyaga. It has not been captured in the Senate report that this Bill was taken to these farmers for public consideration. On 15th August 2024, Kenyans and especially farmers in these areas, including my area of Tharaka in Tharaka Nithi County, were extremely anxious when they were told some of the provisions in this Bill. The reporting may not have been accurate, but the information given to them was that there was a law being formulated to regulate the growing of ndengu in the country. Yet it had not been taken to them for approval. Therefore, we have been instructed to reject the Bill. Looking at the public participation done by the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, it was through adverts placed in the newspapers. The public did not respond apart from a few corporations which have an interest in this crop like research institutions. The net effect is that we have a Bill that has not undergone proper public participation. It should be withdrawn and rejected by this House so that, first, we have proper public participation. It should be taken to counties like Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Machakos and Makueni, so that citizens can discuss its contents. I am also opposing it because it does not seem to address the problems that bedevil this crop to the root. The Committee made very important observations that the crop despite being grown widely, does not fetch a lot in the market. This is because it has not had proper production husbandry and the Government has not given the support required. The net effect is that if we are to have a law on the ndengu beans, then we must seek the role the Government will play. If farmers are registered to get help from the Government, the mode must be set out so that there is no misinformation like the one doing rounds in the counties that you will not grow ndengu unless you are registered with the county government. Failure to do so will attract a fine of not more than Ksh1million or a prison term of two years or both. That may not be entirely correct in this Bill. Farmers need to understand exactly why they are being called upon to register. We must also have clearly defined roles for those persons who buy ndengu known as brokers. They have confined the growers of ndengu including those in Tharaka to penalty. They buy this crop at very cheap prices. Therefore, we must have regulations on how the pricing, marketing and everything else that goes with the selling of the crop is regulated. Another reason why I oppose this Bill is because it has provisions regarding what the county governments are supposed to do and they are elaborate. The net effect is for the Houses of Parliament - the Senate and the National Assembly, to make rules and regulations regarding county governments. I do not think this House has the power to do so. Counties are devolved units and have their own assemblies which make laws governing what they do. In as much as the Committee has proposed elaborate amendments to the Bill, it was not properly done and drafted. The Senate never thought through this Bill and it appears to have been rushed as a 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."
}