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{
    "id": 1497213,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497213/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 208,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tigania West, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I want to mention some specific clauses in the Bill which I think will assist the Committee. Clause 3 of the Bill has a few issues. It states: “(1) The object of this Act is to provide for a legal framework that promotes a sustainable and competitive co-operatives sector for socio-economic development in a devolved system of governance.” Socio-economic development in this country will happen only if we harness the things around the factors of production. One key factor of production is land, which is the building block for the foundation we need to develop this economy. If we have sustainable co- operatives, it means we will develop our people. For an economy to grow, we need to make as many people as possible useful, so that they can contribute to the economic well-being of our country. Clause 3(2)(b) specifies one of the objects of the Act shall include to provide for- “(b) uniform norms and standards in the registration, regulation and supervision of co-operatives.” There should be no selective treatment when it comes to co-operatives. Some should not be sacred cows. They should all be uniformly treated. Clause 3(2)(d) talks about areas of concurrent jurisdiction in promotion, registration, and regulation. The provision of co-operatives has been highlighted. Therefore, it is important to anchor this Act in existing legislation so that cross-referencing is enabled; and thus, making it better than the law we had before. Clause 4 talks about co-operative principles. Violation of those principles led to the collapse of co-operatives such as the principle of voluntary and open membership. When members form a co-operative and they disagree, there is no homogeneity of membership or glue to bond them together. That is a problem. On the principle of democratic member control, democracy lacks in many co- operatives. We have some levels of dictatorship and this makes it impossible for the co- operatives to run properly. Look at the principle of economic participation by the members. Some decisions that have been made in co-operatives have led to misuse of resources, thus leading to suffering. This needs to be looked into carefully so that democracy persists and economic participation of the members is ordered in a way that will help co-operatives to grow. These co-operative principles are key in terms of helping co-operatives to move forward. Looking at the establishment…"
}