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{
    "id": 380304,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/380304/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important to understand why we went for devolution. Devolution was very important in developing local economies. That is why if you go to Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule, you will find that abattoirs is a function of county governments. But these county governments cannot just construct these abattoirs unless we give them the necessary resources. My proposal is that in the Budget for the next financial year, we must sit down together and cost all those functions in Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule. This is because in most pastoralist areas abattoirs will play a very important role. Therefore, we need to put resources not only in building the infrastructure and structure, but also in what Sen. Kuti said; something that many people, perhaps, may not appreciate. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary standards requires certain measures to be put in place, including having a proper clearance mechanism for us to access foreign market, especially in Europe. It is important that we put even more resources on export related measures that will support abattoirs that are targeting foreign markets, so that we can ensure that our country is putting forward--- In fact, for a long time we used to talk about these areas being low potential. Now we can no longer say that Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet or Baringo are low potential areas. In fact, I was in a meeting last weekend where Sen. Zipporah Kittony reminded us that some of these counties used to be called “closed districts” during those days. According to Sen. Kittony, if you wanted to leave Baringo County for Nandi or other parts of the country, you needed to get a license somewhere in Elgeyo Marakwet County. This literary also meant that these places were “closed” economically, but now we cannot call them low potential areas because exploration of oil is taking place in Kerio Valley, between Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo County. We think that these counties are now getting the necessary attention, but it should not just get the attention for purposes of extracting resources out of them, but in terms of investing those resources in matters of livestock. In fact, legislation on community land is being developed. The day that this legislation will be tabled in this House, we must be very careful not to facilitate processes in these pastoralist areas, which will lead to demarcation of land and subdivision into small units, because that will negate the potential that we would get from these areas in terms of keeping livestock. If you go to some parts of Laikipia and Narok, the continuous subdivision of land and the danger that came with group ranches, where they further subdivide the land to smaller unties, will perhaps do away with this very important economic activity of pastoralism and taking care of livestock. I think it is important that those legislations support this economic activity that will make a big difference. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I speak like this because the economic activity of a larger area of Elgeyo Marakwet County is livestock keeping. The same applies to our neighbours in Baringo. I think that it is important that Elgeyo Marakwet County be facilitated and given the resources to build abattoirs. The same applies to Baringo County and West Pokot County. Once that is done, even the cattle rustling menace will come to an end. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}