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{
    "id": 1489985,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1489985/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 130,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wafula",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 348,
        "legal_name": "Davis Wafula Nakitare",
        "slug": "davis-nakitare"
    },
    "content": "THAT, the Senate adopts the report of the Mediation Committee on the Sugar Bill, (National Assembly Bills No.34 of 2022), laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024 and further pursuant to Article113(2) of the Constitution and Standing Order No.167(3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bill. Hon. Madam Temporary Speaker, as I have indicated, today is my maiden day moving of a Bill that has been at the core and the heart of the sugarcane farmer in the Republic of Kenya. This is a Bill that comes in handy to solve long-standing issues that have affected the farmer, manufacturers and the chain production from the grassroots to the table, in the country. As I speak to you now, the Mediation Committee appreciates that the Sugar Bill aims to reinstate the Sugar Act that was previously replaced by the Crop Act in 2013. It has been a subject of extensive deliberation within both Houses of Parliament. The Senate first considered the Bill and subsequently transmitted and proposed amendments to the National Assembly on 15th May, 2024. Following this, on 1st August, 2024 the National Assembly approved the Motion regarding the report from the Committee of the whole House concerning these Senate amendments. However, it is important to note that some of the amendments proposed by the Senate were rejected by the National Assembly. This triggered a mediation process that is outlined in Article 112(2)(b) of the Constitution resulting in the formulation of Mediation Committee that developed the harmonized Bill. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there are a few items that were of consideration. I want to be brief, so that I give honourable Members an opportunity to contribute. We analyzed and concluded that we amend or change the terming of zones to eliminate zones and factor in catchment areas that will consider areas of electoral representation and areas that will provide sugarcane management. This is where the specific catchment area has a number of factories where they will pump resources, do farming and ensure farmers within that area benefit from the factories around there. The catchment area is to represent the farmers when electing people to the Sugar Board. Madam Temporary Speaker, another factor that was of concern to the mediation team was to ensure that gender, youth and Persons with Disability (PwDs) are factored in the Board. This necessitated the Mediation Committee to allow at the end of the process, the Cabinet Secretary when appointing people to the Board to ensure that they meet the gender threshold, the disability and the youth. Equally, to capture the aspirations of the diverse zones in the country that people grow sugarcane, the representation and the leadership will be in rotation. This is in the sense that no specific area will dominate, balkanize and seclude others in the management and running of the Board. That mandate has been given to the Ministry to ensure regulations are in place and that the factor is enshrined in the law. Another concern that came to the table was on how to utilize the taxation that farmers incur when they are taxed this money. We agreed these funds will be channeled to the Sugar Board because it will file returns to National Assembly and the Senate. If there is anything that is not in tandem with the laid down regulations in the Constitution, then both Houses will be able to tackle. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}