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{
    "id": 371608,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/371608/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 112,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Shebesh",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 377,
        "legal_name": "Rachel Wambui Shebesh",
        "slug": "rachel-shebesh"
    },
    "content": "THAT, the Motion be amended by expanding the membership of the ad hoc Committee to include the following Members:- 1. Hon. George Wanjohi, MP. 2. Hon. Kathuri Murungi, MP. 3. Hon. Wanjiku Muhia, MP. 4. Hon. Philip Rotino, MP. 5. Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a, MP. 6. Hon. Mpuru Aburi, MP. Hon. Deputy Speaker, my reasons for moving the amendment are very basic. One is that we have a right as Members of this House to sit in Committees. When a Select Committee is formed, it should go in terms of numbers. The numbers should be as closely as possible to the other Committees that exists. All our Committees have a membership of 29 while this Committee has a membership of 23. To me, that just reduces the opportunity for Members to take part in some vital work of this House, which I believe this Motion is part of. That is because if you listen and looked at this Motion, you will realize that it needs to have membership from the areas that grow miraa, areas that consume miraa and areas that look at miraa as a phenomenon; they do not understand. For us to effectively conclude the Motion that has been brought before us by Hon. (Ms) Florence Kajuju--- I really want to congratulate her for taking the bull by the horns and bringing to the Floor what has been a controversial issue to be decided once and for all. We would like to have a Committee that is not biased. I have said that I would not like this Select Committee to appear as if it is just for those who grow miraa for economic benefit. That is because there are those who consume miraa and majority are in Nairobi and other urban areas. The effect of growing and consuming miraa is totally different and divergent. Therefore, we must get views from both sides. Again, I thank hon. (Ms.) Kajuju for bringing out the social aspects of miraa . Some of the Members who have spoken have already enumerated them. That is why many women county Members of Parliament have been included in this Motion. I have also included one or two simply because I also know the social effects of miraa . That is probably the reason why NACADA would go out and ask that it be classified as a drug. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I do not want to start debating on this issue contrary to what my colleagues have said. I would rather have inclusivity in this Committee so that issues of pros and cons are discussed at the Committee level. I also believe that they will invite experts – they should really start with NACADA – to explain how miraa is a drug. Does it continue to be grown in Meru without arresting the farmers because if you grow anything that is a drug like bhang, then you should be arrested for growing it? However, I do not see any attempt to arrest miraa farmers. Definitely there is a disconnect between NACADA calling miraa a drug and what is on the ground."
}