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{
    "id": 1488693,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488693/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 324,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nyando, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jared Okello",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "being put at a particular catchment. It has all been decided that not more than three companies can exist within a catchment. This is also in trying to control usage of sugarcane. Otherwise, we may overdo or create a lot of strife amongst companies. It is three sugar companies per catchment. That is to me a very good approach. Now, the issue of representation at the Board becomes very critical. During elections of representatives to the Board, it is more serious than electoral units within us are. I like something very much. The mediation team has decided that whereas directors will be elected at catchment areas, it becomes rotational. When you have a director from Kisumu, another will subsequently come from Nandi. Otherwise, Nandi will lose because of our numbers if you subject Kisumu farmers to Nandi farmers. Subsequent election will go to a different region and not Kisumu having more than its fair share. That was a very good approach. Again, monies the Sugar Board will collect as levies both from local farmers and sugarcane that comes from outside Kenya will be shared amongst certain bodies within this Board. Therefore, we have created a training institute whose work will be to carry out research. That is because we are still stuck on sugarcane that takes two years to mature yet the digital age has dictated that we have some that only take nine months. Let us go for the nine-month crop. The Sugar Research Institute will carry out that work. Roads within the sugar sector or schemes are in a dilapidated state. We expected that our county governments that get cess monies from farmers supplying sugarcane would pave the roads for them. However, it is the direct opposite. Hon. Temporary Speaker, when you go to these sugar companies, you cannot believe the condition of roads in these places. Therefore, in the wisdom of the Committee and the mediated version of the Sugar Bill, this money will be going straight under the oversight of Members of Parliament who come from the sugarcane-growing regions. Just like we play an oversight role to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) which is doing splendid work in our areas, this money— which will also be used to help improve roads within the sugarcane growing regions— will address dilapidated infrastructure within these places. We have also put a lot of emphasis on sugar imported into the country. Sugar is the low-hanging fruit for any crooked government to make money. They do it at a disadvantage of our sugar mills. We have seen cases where sugar companies’ warehouses are full. They have no market, yet the Government brings in tax-free sugar, so that they can mop up their finances either for political expediency during campaigns or reasons that are beyond our knowledge. This Bill has put a lot of emphasis on the amount that has to be brought into the country, only at a time when our country does not have enough for its local use. From where we have been before, this is a step up. Our farmers together with employees in these sugar companies have suffered for way too long. Therefore, we believe and hope that with all these changes that we intend to have, they will enjoy at least for once. We have also proposed inspectors who will be going around to know whether the sugar that we have is local or imported. If it is imported, which Gazette Notice informed the importation? We are trying the much that we can, under the strenuous circumstances, to come up with purity in this business of sugar. Therefore, I support the mediated version of the Bill. However, it does not close doors for improvements in the future because some of the issues we have proposed will still be pilot. If the catchment idea will not reflect the wishes of the people, then in six months, we will come back here and make amendments where necessary. I thank you for the opportunity to contribute, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support the mediated version of the Bill."
}