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{
    "id": 149144,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/149144/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 410,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Nyagah",
    "speaker_title": "June 4, 2009 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1096 The Minister for Co-operative Development and Marketing",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 269,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Nthiga Nyagah",
        "slug": "joseph-nyagah"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me start by saying that I do not wish to pre-empt the work which is being undertaken by the Nyenze Taskforce because it is a very difficult job. It is a very difficult task that they are engaged in; one that hopefully, if nothing else, will help Kenyans in future so that they do not get involved in this kind of thing. Let me also confirm that I do not have the final report but I will have it in the next two weeks. But indications are that they have identified 169 such schemes and we believe others are still going on. So, part of this exercise, we hope, is to stop Kenyans from being cheated in future. Let me start with the first question: What protection am I providing to people like Kinyua and others? It is very difficult to provide specific protection. I am aware of Mr. Kinyua’s problem. I am even aware that he has court cases pending as a result of the action he has been taking on this particular subject. I have raised this with various security agencies so that we can see what we can do because of possible repercussions that could come up. May I plead with Dr. Khalwale to allow me to get the report because I do not have the names. Many names have come up because this was a public hearing and many people went there. So, some of the names he is mentioning, yes, have come up but I am waiting to see the report because there was a process of clarification, consultation and verification that was taking place. Once the report is out, I will be able to be more specific. I am sure the taskforce will be recommending impounding of documents if that makes sense after the verification and discussions that they have been holding. The other question was: Am I in control? The Government is a very big animal. I was under pressure as the Minister in charge of co-operatives because out of the 169 schemes that have been identified, about 16 at the last minute converted to co-operatives. They took advantage of the co-operative law and continued to cheat and take money from the public, not only through the churches but also from co-operatives. But in the case of co-operatives, I wish to confirm that very quickly, our officers discovered what was going on and most of them were stopped. They were liquidated and stopped. Some went to court and we have had court cases going on. Having, therefore, been under pressure from people who lost billions of shillings, as a Ministry, I had to take action. It is expected after this that the initial report that will come from this taskforce will be used to address the various areas that have been identified. I have no problem if Parliament wants to pick it up in order to address it, if there are any loopholes and areas that need clarification or more specialized follow up than a co-operative Minister’s taskforce can do. I have no problem and I will lay the Report on the Table once it is ready for Parliament to follow up. I think it is only fair that we should be transparent because, at least, we know of 20 Kenyans who have committed suicide as a result of losing money. We know of many homes where divorce has occurred. We know many separations in families have taken place because the wife never told the husband or vice versa . I am not toothless because the report will come out. I will make it public because I committed myself from the beginning that it will be public. The House is at liberty and I will also pass it on to the other wings of the Government to follow up the specific areas that will be necessary to be followed up. Obviously, a report like this makes recommendations that need to be followed up."
}