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{
    "id": 4081,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/4081/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 360,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Gitari",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 388,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Gachoki Gitari",
        "slug": "joseph-gitari"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want the Government to use its machinery. I also want to use this opportunity to remind my friend Dr. Khalwale that he owes the people of Kirinyaga Central an apology for coming to support my opponent during the by-election. This Motion needs to be supported by all of us. It is important to urge the Executive arm to know what happens on the ground and understand the feelings of the farmers. We want the Government to support farmers by waiving the loans by farmers. We know that farmers are heavily burdened. We know that they have loans from financial institutions. With the current inflation and the rise in interest rates, most farmers face auctioneers day in, day out. So, my plea is that we support this Motion, so that we cushion farmers. This is not the first time that this is happening because we know that in times of adverse effects, this Government has been handy in cushioning our farmers. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as a way forward, let us empower tea producers, so that production is guaranteed instead of waiting to rescue them when it is already too late. It is high time that the Government came with a policy because as Dr. Khalwale has said, when we went to the UK, the Government was cushioning some people. Kenya will not be the same because farmers in more developed parts of the world are cushioned by their governments, especially when affected by bad weather. In Kirinyaga County, for example, we have five tea factories. Farmers are owed Kshs4 billion. Just the other day, they received their bonuses. However, January next year, they will borrow money from banks and SACCOs. So, by end of January, they will be owed Kshs2.4 billion. Some of us who come from tea farming areas have come this far, including to Parliament, because our farmers went to the banks, got loans and educated us. It is now our chance to give back to the community. We are urging the Government to waive the loans. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, due to increase in interest rates and the cost of living, it will be a good thing to cushion farmers. This is because unless we cushion the farmers, we will leave them to be beggars, because by June auctioneers will be waiting for them."
}