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{
    "id": 1511014,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1511014/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Konoin, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Brighton Yegon",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, I rise to present a Public Petition regarding farmers’ hydropower generation by the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA). I, the undersigned, on behalf of smallholder tea farmers, draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) as the managing agent for smallholder tea farmers, undertook to initiate projects on behalf of smallholder tea farmers in generating power through hydro-power generation; THAT, more than Ksh3 billion has been deducted from smallholder tea farmers since 2014 and in particular, those from Bomet County and other surrounding counties in the west of Rift Valley region; THAT, the proposed hydro-power projects were projected to provide substantial returns, which would have directly benefited farmers by lowering energy expenses in the tea factories, therefore, lowering the costs of production and potentially increasing profits; THAT, since inception of the project in 2014, more than 10 years after the initial contribution, not a single hydro-power project has been completed and farmers have been left in uncertainty and frustration due to lack of progress in the said projects; THAT, the expected benefits such as reduced energy costs and increased income have not materialised leaving farmers in financial distress; THAT, lack of detailed reporting and progress updates on the projects allegedly suggest possible financial mismanagement; THAT, the matter presented in this Petition is not pending before any tribunal court, court of law or any constitutional or legal body. Therefore, your humble petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Select Committee on Public Petitions: 1. Engages the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and other relevant authorities with a view of investigating the alleged financial management in regard to generating power by the KTDA on behalf of smallholder tea farmers in Bomet County and other surrounding counties in the west of Rift Valley region. 2. Makes recommendations compelling KTDA to provide a detailed report within 30 days on the status of hydropower projects including how the funds were invested and the reasons for inordinate delay of the projects. 3. Recommends the due compensation of smallholder tea farmers in the affected region where more than Ksh3 billion has been deducted since 2014. 4. Makes any other necessary recommendation the Committee deems fit to address the issues raised in this Petition. And your petitioners will forever pray."
}