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{
    "id": 1495522,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495522/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 406,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "South Mugirango, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Silvanus Osoro",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that the Cooperatives Bill (National Assembly Bill No.7 of 2024) be now read a Second Time. The Bill, as presented before this House, seeks to provide for a legal framework that promotes a sustainable and competitive cooperative sector for socio-economic development in a devolved system of governance. It also seeks to give effect to Article 186 and the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution. The Bill also seeks to promote uniform norms and standards in the registration, regulation, supervision and management of cooperatives. It seeks to establish a framework for constitution and cooperatives among counties. This Bill further seeks to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Cooperative Development at the national level and the Office of the County Director for Cooperatives at the county level. It provides for the establishment of the Intergovernmental Cooperatives Relations Technical Forum. The Office of the Commissioner for Cooperative Development will be responsible for the promotion, registration and regulation of cooperatives, and also enabling the Intergovernmental Cooperatives Relations Technical Forum. This Bill further seeks to introduce the cooperatives' four-tier structure that is composed of: 1. The primary cooperatives; 2. The secondary cooperatives; 3. The cooperative federations; and, 4. Apex cooperative. The cooperative sector is very critical in the socio-economic development of the country and the realisation of the Government's objective of bringing down the cost of living, eradicating hunger, creating jobs, expanding the tax base, improving foreign exchange and balance and inclusive growth. The significant benefits that have accrued to Kenyans through the cooperatives include employment and wealth creation. Besides the traditional areas of agricultural production, processing and marketing, the strength of cooperatives is currently felt in several areas, including finance, real estate, value addition, education, health and transport. We all see Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) and cooperative societies in the matatu industry, mining and several other commercial activities. Hon. Deputy Speaker, as I move debate on this Bill, it is important to also highlight the content of the Bill as drafted. The Bill has 168 clauses that are divided into 17 Parts and three schedules. Part I of the Bill, which of course comprises Clauses 1 to 5 of the Bill, provides for the preliminary matters including the short title of the Bill. It also provides for the interpretation of the terms used in the Bill and the object of the Act. It also provides for the guiding principles in the implementation and application of the Act. Part II, which starts from Clause 6 to 18 of the Bill, provides for the establishment of the offices and administration of the Act. It establishes offices in three divisions. Division 1 relates to national Government offices, wherein it establishes the Office of the Commissioner for Cooperative Development and provides for the staff of the Office of the Commissioner. It"
}