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{
    "id": 155341,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/155341/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 268,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Raila",
    "speaker_title": "The Prime Minister",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 195,
        "legal_name": "Raila Amolo Odinga",
        "slug": "raila-odinga"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know that hon. Members would like to ask a number of questions and, therefore, I have several documents that I want to lay on the Table. I just want to summarize the contents of those documents that I have. I have with me three different documents from the KEBS giving contradictory test results. One is saying that the cargo is unfit for human consumption but fit as animal feeds. The other one says that it is unfit for both. There is also another one that says it is fit for both. There is another test result from another company called Protecting and Indemnity (P & I) Kenya, Limited, which was hired. It is an independent testing authority, which has also produced a report saying “the maize is fit for human consumption”. Mr. Speaker, Sir, faced with all these contradictions--- I need to add that I also received a letter from the Minister for Public Health and Sanitation accompanied by a certificate from the Government Chemist which was saying that this particular cargo was unfit for both human and animal consumption. Mr. Speaker, Sir, faced with these facts, I convened a meeting in my office which was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture with the head of the Kenya Plant Health Inspection Service (KEPHIS), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industrialization with the head of Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation accompanied by the Chief Government Chemist. At that meeting, we discussed these differing test results collectively. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I said that the credibility of our testing authorities was at stake. At that meeting, we said that since doubt had already been cast over this particular consignment, irrespective of the other test results that come out, this particular cargo should never be used for human consumption. We resolved that we send each Permanent Secretary and an officer from the respective testing authorities to the Port of Mombasa so that the truth could actually come out. These three Permanent Secretaries with their officials proceeded to Mombasa. We also appointed an independent testing authority, Intertek. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when they arrived at the Port of Mombasa, they found this cargo which had been discharged. This cargo was discharged because the ship had stayed at the Port for 35 days. The owner of the ship said he wanted the ship to move out. At that time, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) went to court and got an order to have the ship arrested and detained. The insurance company then went to court and eventually issued an indemnity so that the cargo could be discharged, for the ship to leave. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it was agreed that the cargo in the three compartments which had been certified to be okay should be discharged and released. But the others over which there was still some dispute were to be stored in a particular silo. This cargo was stored in that silo. We sent those officers to go and verify and have another test done. When they went there, samples were taken, but the Intertek tested and found that this cargo was fit for both human and animal consumption. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the SGS also carried out a test. I have all the results here and they show that this cargo was fit for human consumption. We had already passed a"
}