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"id": 231534,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Wamunyinyi",
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"speaker": {
"id": 291,
"legal_name": "Athanas Misiko Wafula Wamunyinyi",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I had said earlier on that the PAC had done a very good job and that we, as a House, need to move to approve the Report which is before the House. I had said that the Government, through the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) should move with speed to ensure that the Kisumu Airport, which is the only one in the region, is back on track and planes should be seen flying down to Kisumu safely. There was an issue which is very important that concerns PAC and also affects this country. That issue is about Mumias Sugar Company involvement with the project in Tana Rivers Development and Authority (TARDA). Obviously, as the owner of the land and the Athi project, TARDA should be the one doing a feasibility study and trying to establish if that project is viable. TARDA should be spending its money because that is its investment. I remember that the parent Ministry of Regional Development Authorities had earlier advertised this project and four firms tendered. One of which, was Kenana of Sudan. Kenana which had the lowest bid of about Kshs21 million was never awarded this project to conduct a feasibility study on the sugar project on the delta area. The question we should ask ourselves is why the project was not awarded to Kenana Sugar Company, which had the lowest bids. In the first place, Mumias Sugar Company was not among the companies which had tendered for the project. How did it get involved? That was a matter under the Ministry of Regional Development Authorities. How was it transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture? How was the amount of Kshs128 million, which has since been reviewed to Kshs200 million arrived at? These are questions which members of the public and hon. Members have been asking themselves. We are aware that when we are approaching the general election time, the Government uses its parastatals and departments to raise money. That is done through capital projects. I believe this is one of the routes that have been taken to syphon money. There has not been a resolution by the shareholders of Mumias Sugar Company to invest in Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA). Where did the Minister for Agriculture and whoever else is involved get the power to act on behalf of shareholders? Cane farmers are being underpaid while the company intends to spend Kshs200 million to study a project. Supposing Mumias Sugar Company pays Kshs200 million and the result of the study is that the project is unviable, who will meet the cost and pay back the money because it will have been spent? While this is happening, the farmers are being underpaid Kshs2,100 per tonne, which is \"mere peanuts.\" At the end of the day, after deductions are made, most farmers of the Mumias Sugar Company get what they refer to as DRs. They do not get any money from the 4136 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES December 5, 2006 company. The other reason why we are opposing the funding of the project by Mumias Sugar Company is because it will have an effect on environment. Experts have done a study on this and established that this will have a far reaching effect on the environment at the delta region. The delta area is the only one where pastoralists have the last resort; this is the place where in case of a continuous drought, they take their animals to graze. When the current Managing Director of Mumias Sugar Company was appointed, he initiated some projects, one of which involved fencing all round the sugar company's premises which cost Kshs30 million. He also initiated the construction of a two kilometre stretch of road to the factory, which cost roughly Kshs60 million, by Cabro Works Construction Company. I am also aware that he initiated the boiler expansion to enhance the crushing capacity against cane shortage. This project cost Kshs700 million. If you look at the manner in which the projects were undertaken, you will find that Mumias Sugar Company which is the key sugar production company in this country, it is very likely to fall. So, while we speak on the public accounts and investments in the country, we must also ensure that the relevant Ministries do not take the opportunity to syphon money from public institutions. I am aware that Alex Mureithi is one of the Managers in TARDA and I hope he is not trying to make money for NARC(K). Mumias Sugar Company, which is alleged to be doing well and making profits, owes a lot of money to farmers. It owes farmers through the farmers' organisation Kshs1.2 billion. It does not make any sense for the company to declare profits while it owes a lot of money to farmers. This is a systematic way of trying to \"kill\" Mumias Sugar Company. We, as leaders from that area, will not sit down to see that happen. You are aware that I represent farmers under the Mumias Sugar Company. So, it is my duty to speak on their behalf. The other issue which is important is the support that should be offered to small entrepreneurs. They need to be supported by providing funds in terms of loans so that they can also expand their businesses. That is the only way we can enhance the livelihood of our people. Projects cannot go on, particularly, when some firms go slow in implementing our policies. For instance, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has had a problem in implementing the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) even in areas where members of the public have paid money. The company has failed in providing power supply to people and that is pushing us backwards. Sometimes, we pay KPLC using our CDF, hoping that the company will implement the electrification projects but it takes too long to implement the projects. Equally important is the issue of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. That was a very good idea when it was first introduced by the Minister at the Budget level. The idea excited the youth in this country and even the leadership. However, we are now in December and since the implementation of the fund was announced in June, nothing has happened. This will turn out to be a problem. We are sitting on a time bomb. I think something is wrong with our Government. Not even the previous Government had such problems. This Government does not move on to implement issues that it promises to Kenyans. Instead, it concentrates on destroying political parties. The Ministers themselves are involved in that. I want to urge the Government to release the Youth Enterprise Development Fund so that the youth of this country can help themselves within their areas and benefit from their own sweat. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}