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{
    "id": 1488623,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488623/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Navakholo, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "7. Whether to adopt the sugarcane zones proposed by the Senate or the sugarcane catchment areas proposed by the National Assembly. The Committee deliberated and resolved the above issues as follows: 1. On whether to go the zoning way, as proposed by the Senate, or the regional catchment areas, as proposed by the National Assembly, the Committee resolved to adopt the National Assembly's position of putting regional catchment areas in place, which will be important in cane management. 2. On whether to increase the membership of the Kenya Sugar Board to 14 by adding a member from the least represented gender and a representative of persons living with disabilities or the youth, the Committee resolved to retain the membership of the Board at 12, provided that the appointing authority shall ensure that there is adherence to the two-thirds gender rule and representation of the youth and persons living with disabilities on the Board insofar as it is practical. 3. On the nominating body for the representative of universities on the board of directors of the Sugar Research Institute, the Committee observed that universities in Kenya do not have an apex body to nominate a representative. The responsibility to nominate a representative of universities to the Board was, therefore, placed with the Cabinet Secretary, who will ensure that the nominee has knowledge and experience in agricultural research in the sugarcane field. 4. On the institution that will be in charge of the percentage of the Sugar Development Levy allocated for infrastructure development and maintenance, the Committee resolved to have the 15 per centum allocated for infrastructure development and maintenance managed by the Kenya Sugar Board and shared by the sugarcane-producing regions on a pro-rata basis. This is because Clause 43 of the Bill provides that audited accounts of the Board shall be submitted to the National Assembly and the Senate, and, hence, Parliament will oversee the fund. 5. On whether imported industrial sugar should be exempted from payment of the Sugar Development Levy, the Committee rejected this proposal on the basis that there was no justification to exempt imported industrial sugar from paying the Sugar Development Levy while all other imported sugars are subject to the levy. 6. On whether growers should be represented on the Board of directors of private milling companies, the Committee also rejected this proposal since it is illegal to compel private companies to have farmers' representatives on their boards. Private companies are private with the intention of making a profit; hence, they should be managed privately. There is also a possible conflict of interest if a farmer sits on a company's board, as they can easily compromise in favour of the companies at the expense of the farmers. The practice of having farmers' representatives on boards or in private companies was best left as a practice and custom at the discretion of millers and not compelling legal provisions, as that would contravene the Companies Act of 2015. 7. On whether to adopt the sugarcane zones proposed by the Senate or the sugarcane catchment areas proposed by the National Assembly, the Committee adopted the New Schedule proposed by the Senate and renamed it \"sugarcane catchment areas\" instead of \"sugarcane zones\". The regions will be used for elections and cane management purposes, which are in line with the recommendations of the Sugar Taskforce Report. Further, the sugarcane catchment areas will bring sanity to the sugar industry as they will bring cane 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."
}