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{
    "id": 154486,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/154486/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 411,
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    "content": "actualize the importation. Indeed, the Report has already recommended that stern action to be taken against the Managing Director of the National Cereals and Produce Board. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other section is 14.1.8 which recommends that “the role of the Personal Assistant to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s family, the son and associates in all this import saga, and particularly establish whether there were possible links to maize importers and further establish whether indeed, the companies were registered in Kenya or were foreign as alleged---“ The implication of this proposal and recommendation is that there is something wrong that a Personal Assistant and he is not identified. The Prime Minister has very many Personal Assistants. That is number one. So, you would not really know exactly whom this Report refers to. Again, if you look at the evidence that was adduced before the Committee, you will see that it does not link any particular Personal Assistant of the Prime Minister. So, it leaves room for any interpretation. So, any Personal Assistant of the Prime Minister, whether the current, previous or the future one could be investigated. So, I felt that this was a bit wanting. The Report talks about investigation on the Prime Minister’s family. However, if you read from page one to the point of recommendation, you do not see any evidence to implicate any member of the Prime Minister’s family. Further, the Report is not even clear on the definition of the Prime Minister’s family. Does he mean the nuclear family, the extended family or the political family? This Report is wanting because it is not clear who should be investigated. The Report talks about the sons of the Prime Minister. As far as I am concerned, the Prime Minister has two biological sons. I am at a loss which son among the two the Report is referring to. Do we go for both of them or pick one of them? Based on these facts, I felt that this section needs to be expunged from this Report. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, let me also talk about Grain Bulk Handlers Limited (GBHL). I want you to get me clearly on this. I am not defending GBHL. However, in the Report, the Committee has recommended that another grain bulk handling facility is needed at the Port of Mombasa. The sections I want deleted are particularly calling for investigations into the activities of GBHL without giving any reason as to why the company needs to be investigated. If you look at the Report, it is only mentioning that GBHL failed in handling fertilizer. So, if they failed in handling fertilizer, we need to recommend that we have another grain bulk facility to handle fertilizer. My reason for asking this House to delete those sections is that we should not encourage investigating investors in this country, especially if we have no concrete evidence to warrant the investigations. Let me conclude by saying that while I commend the work of the Committee, I would urge that in future when Committees go out to carry out such an important exercise, and especially when they make recommendations touching on a family of anybody, I think it is important that we have concrete evidence to link that family either to corruption or mismanagement of State resources in any way. However, if we make empty or blanket condemnations, that would be unfair to our families. I will request one Member of that Committee, Dr. Monda, to second my amendment."
}