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{
    "id": 178537,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/178537/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 297,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Eng. Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "My belief is that this Government knows what to do. There is no rocket science required here. We know that the small country of Malawi has been able to have food surplus for quite a long time now. I would have expected that by now we should have seen senior Government delegations from Kenya going to study the Malawi example. Chronic food shortage in Kenya is a matter that is known to everyone. Why are we not learning from examples that exist in Africa? The Government also knows that one of the reasons we are unable to afford a good supply of cereals and other foodstuffs is the fact that inputs are too costly. I would have expected that this Government took urgent steps, because a lot of our farmers are small holder farmers. We want to hear what the Government is doing to promote the use of natural manure. None of that is coming through! Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we also know, and it has been discussed in this House a number of times, the conflicts between a liberalised economy and the basic needs of our people. Are we going to allow liberalisation to make our people starve? A measure of price control must be brought into effect to make Kenyans afford basic foodstuffs. A lot has been said about over-dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Those are long-term measures but, again, we want as a country, to feed our people now, tomorrow and in the years to come. We must also now, as a country, start to distinguish the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB)--- As for me, it has become nothing more than a maize storage board. Why are we not hearing the Government promoting alternatives that can truly help our people deal with the pangs of hunger? Where I come from, for many years, millet was the choice foodstuff for the people. We know millet and sorghum are more hardy than maize; why are we not hearing programmes from the Government to promote alternatives, so that Kenya stops being identified with maize as the only foodstuff? In my submission and view, the current situation that we are facing today in this country--- The biggest agents fuelling it are the cartels, those greedy faceless, selfish and heartless people. They are people without feelings!"
}