Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 246526,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/246526/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 161,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. ole Ntimama",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 200,
        "legal_name": "William Ronkorua ole Ntimama",
        "slug": "william-ntimama"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to say from the outset that this Budget was cleverly constructed and formulated to pull wool over the eyes of Kenyans; to make them believe that the resources of this country are going to be shared fairly and equitably. This is not so. Let me mention one thing immediately. The Minister proposed that imported wheat is going to be zero-rated. That is going to spell total disaster for the wheat farmers in this country. That is going to throw all the farmers, especially in the Rift Valley, out of business. It is going to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on wheat farming. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, once you remove duty on wheat, then this country will be flooded with cheap, low grade wheat leaving wheat from our local farmers to rot in stores. That is the truth of the matter. Who are being targeted? It is the Rift Valley farmers! I can tell you that 1448 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 20, 2006 90 per cent of wheat in this country is grown in the Rift Valley; most of it in Narok and Eldoret. It is not a matter of making the Member for Narok North or the Member for Eldoret North aggrieved. But it is the whole of the people of the Rift Valley. It is a total disaster. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I strongly support hon. Wetangula on the sugar issue. Why do we not develop the local farmer? Why do we not make the local farmer able to produce wheat? We have the land, the know-how and everything. It is a disaster when you give licences to gladiators who will import low grade wheat and then sell to the Kenyan consumers at very exorbitant prices to make a kill. Who is going to suffer here again? It is the Kenyan consumers. The Minister says he has lowered the price of wheat flour. How do you do that, when this wheat will be sold at exorbitant prices? You do not! You are passing the whole thing again to the Kenyan consumer, and yet, you are bringing low grade wheat and leaving good wheat in the farmers' stores to rot. It is a disaster for the Government. How can this Government claim to be looking after the farmers of this country? That side of the House keeps saying that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of this country. What do you do when you kill agriculture? What do you do when you mess up the sugar and wheat industries? It makes it worse. But of course, fuel price has gone up again. How do we prepare to plant wheat when fuel prices are so high? The Minister should lower duty on agricultural implements, for example, fertilizers and tractors to enable the large-scale farmer to produce for this country. It is a total disaster that the price of fertilizer is still very high. What is the wheat farmer going to do? Fuel prices are up, fertilizer prices are high and yet we give those gladiators the licence to import wheat and destroy us. Are we supporting the Kenyan farmer or are we really supporting the Canadian and American farmers? We are definitely supporting the Canadian and American farmers! We must come out clearly to say that we want to marginalize and really kill the initiative of the Kenyan farmer. It is true! That is what it is all about. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, who is actually going to be given these licences? I am glad that my friend, hon. Wetangula is here, because last time, imported sugar was given to the business associates of the mamlukis ! That is going to happen to our wheat!"
}