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"content": "medicinal uses of coconut products. That is also another industry that can be developed, like it has been developed in India, Indonesia, Malaysia and in other parts of the Eastern world. The husks that come from the coconut fruit can be used, and have been used extensively traditionally in the coast, for decoration. Right now, there are many homes in villages within the coastal region, where they live in makuti thatched houses. That is a whole industry which uses the material for roofing and decoration. Even traditionally, the wood is used for creating furniture. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, in our villages, we have used the coconut fruit and other products for religious and other cultural activities. That is another whole industry which if proper investment is put into, we can create employment. The charcoal that comes from the coconut kernel is very special. It burns for longer, thus saving energy. It burns efficiently. This is another area which can be utilized for purposes of creating a green economy in this country. There are very many ways in which coconut can be utilized, including for cosmetics making and industrial purposes. The coconut plant can be exploited in this country but we have a problem because when the President agreed to set up this Authority, we had expected, as a people in that region, that serious investment would be put into this Authority, and that we would start seeing the fruits of the existence of that body. However, up to now, the maximum amount of money that the Authority has been receiving from the Exchequer, in terms of support, has been Kshs80 million per annum. This has not, in any way, been a reflection of the expectations of the people of the coastal region. As a result, there has been under- utilization of the potential for the maximization of the economic activities. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, that is the reason as to why we have a problem with this body existing in the way it is. First of all, as it stands today, the Board can be dissolved at any time. It is at the mercy of a presidential order. It is not properly established in Statute. This means that if we have a change of regime, as we surely shall have, the new administration may want to do things differently. Therefore, if this order is revoked by an action of the Executive, what will happen is that all the little gains that have been made to date, in terms of research, preparatory work and creation of the little capacity with the Kshs80 million that has been going there annually; all this will be lost. So, this is a little Bill which seeks to entrench the Authority in law. The Authority will be known as the Coconut Development Authority, and will be responsible for the development and promotion of the coconut industry in Kenya. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Bill also has licensing provisions. It has imposed requirements for licensing of persons involved in various activities involving coconuts and coconut by-products. So, the Board that has been set out herein can collect licence fee, control quality, conduct research and develop the industry out of the licence fee collections. We believe that once we have this Authority on the ground, when it executes its mandate, as it surely will, the people of that region and the entire country will benefit. It will help this country earn a lot of money. As I said, it has the potential of contributing Kshs23 billion to the Exchequer. It will help this country to earn a lot. It has a potential of injecting Kshs23 billion to the Exchequer. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, without belabouring the point, if you look at all the agricultural sectors that have tremendously grown in these other parts of the"
}