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"id": 1490584,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
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"legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
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"content": "I would like to also thank the Senate Majority and Minority leaders for ensuring that we got nominated to the Mediation Committee. We shall not forget their favour, before the eyes of the Lord. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in Clause 19, we agreed that a miller shall not purchase sugar crop from or accept sugar crop delivered by a grower, and a grower shall not sell or deliver sugar crop to a miller unless the grower is registered or has a valid supply agreement with the miller. This is because, most of the sugar companies do not do cane development. So, we are protecting them from cane poaching, where a factory develops sugar of a particular farmer, but because of sugar pricing and prevailing factors, they might end up encouraging cane poaching. If factory X has done cane development, in Vihiga, Nandi or Kericho counties, they will not have raw material. That factory ends up closing because of cane poaching. Therefore, whenever there is a cane development by a particular farmer, they must be an agreement between the miller and the grower to ensure that we avoid cane poaching. We substituted the zoning into sugar catchment area. According to Clause 2 of the amended Sugar Bill version, the sugar catchment areas will be used for purposes of cane development. Cane development means processing, researching, delivery, growing, and also for purposes of elections to Kenya Sugar Board. In our schedule, we provided how those cluster areas will look like, and I will be sharing with the Members before I close these remarks. If, for example, sugar factories are doing maintenance, be it Chemelil, Muhoroni, West Kenya, Butali, West Valley, Kibos, Naitiri, among other areas, are doing sugar maintenance, the Kenya Sugar Board shall give them an approval to deliver their sugar when it is mature and ready to another sugar catchment area. Clause 19 is, therefore, important because it will ensure that we protect both millers and sugar cane farmers. One of the critical issues that I would like to bring to your attention is the issue of nomination to Kenya Research Institute. We have agreed that universities will nominate members to the board to do extensive sugar research so that our farmers continue to benefit from extension services. Mr. Speaker, Sir, thirdly, we have agreed and amended the issue of Cess, on the issue of sugar Cess in Clause 38. You remember, Members of the National Assembly wanted around Kshs4 billion that was meant for the Kenya Sugar Board to go to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA). KeRRA and KURRA are not constitutional bodies. There is a matter in court so, I do not want to delve into that. That is why we say that the money should remain with the Kenya Sugar Board in consultation with farmers. Two weeks ago, I was in Mosop Sub- County, Nandi County, where they are growing a lot of sugarcane. I used a road between Kapyemit through Lolgeringe to Kamamut in Kabiyet. The road is impossible. The tractors that are carrying the sugar cane are destroying the road. The County government of Nandi has been given millions and millions of shillings through sugar Cess, either by Kibos, Muhoroni, West Kenya and West Valley, the newest factory from Kericho. There is nothing to smile about. From Taunet, all the way to 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."
}