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"id": 215273,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Muturi",
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"legal_name": "Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi",
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"content": "No, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. He has said that, in fact, because of the presentations made, they are considering that, that aspect would be introduced for amendments or deletion at Committee Stage. What I would want to assure you is that I will, because of the practicality, be supporting that move. I would imagine that, perhaps, the Departmental Committee concerned has also looked at that aspect purely on the basis of practicality. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other aspect I wanted to raise is the issue raised by Clause 26 of Part V dealing with promotions. It says:- (1) No person shall- \"(a) advertise tobacco or a tobacco product by means of organising, promoting or sponsoring a sporting, cultural, artistic, recreational, educational or entertainment 2336 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 5, 2007 programme, event or activity; or (b) promote a tobacco product at any sporting, cultural, artistic, recreational, educational or entertainment programme, event or activity; or (c) advertise tobacco or a tobacco product by means of organising, promoting or sponsoring trade fairs, exhibitions, shows or any other events\". Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my quarrel with this provision is one: Some of the tobacco companies are involved in sponsorship of a number of these type of activities from which now they are being banned. I am wondering; is there anything wrong if a tobacco company that is known by a particular name sponsors an event without promoting any specific tobacco product? Just to avoid a situation whereby--- You see, I said from the beginning that I come from a tobacco- growing area. Some of the tobacco companies would merely put a signboard giving the names of their company and do not say anything else. They are not promoting any particular brands or tobacco product. We have seen them; they have even helped us construct health facilities and what they have done is put up a signboard saying: \"Sponsored by this or the other company\". They are not, in any way, promoting any form of smoking or tobacco consumption or any particular tobacco products. I am wondering whether this is not also too restrictive. I believe that those are some of the issues which we should address during the Committee Stage. Finally, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have a small issue with regard to a ban on the requirement in Clause 14(3) of Part IV which says:- \"Every packet or package of tobacco for export from Kenya shall bear the statement \"Manufactured in Kenya for export only\". I think we need to be told what mischief is sought to be corrected by this requirement. This country, by agreement of several international companies, is home to many of those companies. They do their manufacturing here in Kenya by licence. The people to whom they export--- I believe it is possible for the Government to be able to control to ensure what is supposed to be exported is exported to leave the country. But there are other companies and countries in various parts of the world that have chosen Kenya as a place where they will do their manufacturing. But the cigarettes which are manufactured here are exported outside Kenya. They could be called Rothmans, you know the home of Rothmans; it could be Dunhill or any other brand. But the moment you start saying--- Because, you know, we must be realistic. We are a third world country! The moment we begin saying, \"manufactured in Kenya for export only\", I can assure you that, by that requirement, we will see a drop in the export of those locally manufactured cigarette brands which were being manufactured here purely because Kenya was chosen as the best location within this region. It is not just Africa, actually, I am aware that this happens--- Kenya happens to be the headquarters to a huge region. I think that purely for purposes of saving Kenyan jobs, because this is not consumption--- This has nothing to do with the consumption of tobacco. But if we can be the people to manufacture and, say, to source others who want to go and consume, eh! If it is giving Kenyans jobs, I think we need to be selfish a bit in this regard because we are not going to stop people in other parts of the world from smoking! But if they want Kenya to manufacture cigarettes and take it to them, I think we should allow that because it is going to give Kenyans some livelihood. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}