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"id": 248389,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Kipchumba",
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"speaker": {
"id": 313,
"legal_name": "Joseph Kipchumba Lagat",
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to support this Bill. I also want to make some remarks about the Bill. The coming up of this Bill was long overdue. I want to suggest that the ex-officio board members who are in the board be reduced. As we have seen in the case of Uchumi, most of the ex-officio members who have been Permanent Secretaries are unaware of what happens in the respective companies that they sit in as board members, apart from the fact that they just earn allowances. The most noble thing to do would be to reduce their number so that the board does not incur many expenses in terms of paying allowances, when, indeed, they cannot even advise the Ministries about what goes on in the companies. Therefore, I suggest that at a later stage, we remove Permanent Secretaries and only leave the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and that of the Ministry of Co-operative Development and Marketing should be removed. We are all aware that we have one Government. Any information that is relevant to it will, indeed, be brought by one Permanent Secretary, who will be named in the board. I also want to suggest that we make an additional amendment; that, the Chief Executive be the Secretary to the board, as is the case in many companies where chief June 6, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1133 executives or managing directors are, indeed, secretaries to the respective boards. Clause 3(3) says: \"The chairman of the Board shall be elected by the members of the Board from among the members elected under sub-section (1) (a) or appointed under sub- section (1) (b). I want to suggest that we differentiate between membership. The primary stakeholders of the authority are, indeed, farmers. If farmers are the main stakeholders of the authority, the chairman must come from what is stipulated in sub-section 3((1) (a) and the vice-chairman, subsequently, from what is stipulated under sub-clause (1) (b). The reason is because many times, farmers in many boards are relegated to be mere spectators. Therefore, we have to ensure that, indeed, the primary stakeholders who are farmers from various provinces are given the respective roles they should play. The secondary stakeholders, who are members of the associations of cotton growers' ginneries, should be given the position of vice-chairman. I will be making a recommendation, that the section, indeed, be amended. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also looked at the Bill and saw some suggestions that the Minister for Finance should ensure that the ruling price is determined by the Minister for Agriculture. I do not subscribe to price control. What would happen if the Minister in charge fixes a price and buyers do not buy? What recourse would the farmers take? Would the Minister order or force buyers to buy? I am not a believer of price control. Price is determined by demand and supply. I want to suggest that the issue of price control be removed. It has been tried in the past. No price control works. We are running away from a situation where Governments are left with the power of controlling prices. I do not think the Minister has the capacity to dictate or decide at what price farmers should sell their commodities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am happy that the Controller and Auditor-General will be auditing the authority. That is a welcome move that should be supported. We are aware that the Controller and Auditor-General is doing a good job. The fact that the Minister concerned must bring to this House the accounts of the authority within 14 days, is indeed, a welcomed move."
}