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{
    "id": 1495572,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1495572/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 456,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Aldai, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Marianne Kitany",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I stand to support, allow me to state right from the outset, that these amendments to the Cooperatives Bill could not have come at a better time. I say so because the last time this Bill was ever amended was in 2004, which is about 20 years ago. It was way before the 2010 Constitution was promulgated. We know that cooperatives is a devolved function. Therefore, there was a requirement that the Bill be amended to conform with the 2010 Constitution. History will not let us down in knowing what has happened to cooperatives in the past. Key examples are the old Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU). The birth of the new KPCU was as a result of the mismanagement of the former KPCU. Another good example is the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC). At some point, farmers almost lost their incomes and revenues because of the collapsed KCC. The birth of the New KCC is, again, as a result of mismanagement at the cooperative level. Some of the other notable cooperatives that have had issues are the farmers’ cooperatives, more specifically, in the milk, sugar, and coffee sectors. I can give you many examples. The Government will put up about Ksh7 billion to finance cooperatives in the coffee sector because of mismanagement in previous cooperatives. The sugar sector has not been left behind. The Government will put up about Ksh2 billion or Ksh1.7 billion because of mismanagement in cooperatives. This is because there were flaws or issues in the Cooperatives Act, which directors or managers of the cooperatives took advantage of and misused the cooperatives that they had been entrusted with. The Bill was First Read in April 2024 and committed to the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, pursuant to Standing Order 127. An advertisement was placed in the media for public participation, which was done in eight counties representing the eight regions in our country. It was done in Siaya, Vihiga, Kericho, Mombasa, Machakos, Isiolo and Kirinyaga. We also had submissions from various stakeholders, including the Ministry, the Council of Governors, who had a great interest in this Bill, and many other stakeholders and cooperators. Many cooperators came in to give their views on the Bill. Many of the proposed amendments to this Bill will go a long way in helping farmers and Kenyans who are cooperators. Some of the amendments are on the transfer of shares, especially when the principal has died. What has been happening is that those shares are transferred to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA). The beneficiaries try to follow up on them, but they are unable to get them. The amendments will show how the transfer of shares can happen from the principal to the beneficiaries in case of death, or in case a member wants to exit a cooperative. Some issues that have come up are that some chairpersons and board members of cooperatives have become permanent members who live there year in, year out. They have"
}