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{
    "id": 1488321,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488321/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 418,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, Jubilee",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Sabina Chege",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. First and foremost, I want to really thank the Chairperson. It has been quite a journey with this Bill. The Bill was brought by Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose in the 11th Parliament. In the 12th Parliament, when I was the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health, we handled the Bill and we could not get consensus between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture. Together with Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose, we went for benchmarking in the USA to see how food is regulated for the benefit of consumers. We saw how the Food and Drug Authority regulate their food products. I am happy that this Bill has finally reached this level, and I support it fully. Kenya is the only country which allows its people to feed their animals with different products that may be harmful to the consumers. Finally, we are dealing with diseases such as cancer and we are not sure of their cause or how to handle it. When food is mishandled and its labelling is not done properly, it then becomes a problem. We have instances where different products have been labelled organic and yet they are not. We have cases of diabetes and obesity in this country. Kenyans, therefore, need to know what they are feeding on, and the percentage of every nutrient that is in the products that they are consuming without being lied to. This is also important to the people who need to cut weight. There are many products that are being sold with all sorts of names and promises but, at the end of the day, nobody is accountable. It is important for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to regulate what is being fed to our animals. When in the USA, we visited one of the poultry farms and we saw how eggs are handled before they are released into the market. There are some standards that must be adhered to in relation to what you feed your livestock on. Sometimes, our farmers give cows some medications and thereafter, take their products like milk to the market which would, in turn, become harmful to the consumers. I support this Bill, and I am hoping that with these kinds of regulations, we will have a reduction of diseases and we would be able to save more lives. Above all, we would also cut on the health budget because if you consume something that is not good, you will end up being sick and you would need to go to the hospital, which is very expensive because we will be paying from our pockets or through the different initiatives that the Government offers. Hon. Robert Pukose, I am very happy today and grateful that this Bill has got to this level. I support. Thank you."
}