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"id": 391439,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Muthama",
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"legal_name": "Johnson Nduya Muthama",
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"content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I wish to thank those who contributed to this Motion and for the issues that they brought up. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just to be brief and clear, let me say that the last coffee that was harvested, the average price that was made by the areas that produce coffee, including the county you represent, was about Kshs22 per kilogramme. If you look at the cost of producing that coffee for the whole year and the amount of work that was invested, not only did those farmers not make money, but they actually went into total losses. The issue here – and that is what Sen. Mutahi Kagwe and other contributors have said – is that what we are trying to do here is to hold on to what is ours and say we do not want to give it for free. Since the market is bad, we want to hold on to our coffee and tea, and when the market is good, we want to release it to the market. The Government at that particular time will earn the much needed foreign currency that will help the country and, secondly, the Government will recover its own money. Thirdly, the farmers will have been supported. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the only thing that can make us be leaders and have a Government that cares for its citizens is to protect the citizens themselves. So, we should not just circle on areas where we are paying salaries, and we are spending money to do other things and forget that those who generate that income need to be protected. So, we need to consider this, and as it has been mentioned here, I am prepared to bring a Bill immediately to make sure that this issue is dealt with once and for all. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. Karaba spoke with a lot of authority because his area is just like mine; 75 per cent of my people do not grow anything else except coffee and, more so, tea. You have heard here that those who actually grow tea in Rift Valley and other areas also raised the same issues. So now, for once, we need to start with this. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki indicated that the counties will earn money once this is implemented. I want to add that, actually, it is not only the counties that will earn money, but the Government will also earn foreign currency, and they will not be looking for where to get money to buy fuel, weapons, medicine and other essential commodities that we need. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. (Dr.) Machage indicated that this is now an eye opener, and we have started with this small idea, but it should be expanded to bring other commodities which are also exported outside Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. Orengo mentioned that many factories had actually closed down, and these are not only coffee factories. The only area where we can now talk about factories existing in villages is only in the coffee and tea areas. Sen. Kittony indicated and brought it out very openly with a lot of strength that by doing this, we are 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."
}