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{
    "id": 431230,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/431230/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 71,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nooru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2238,
        "legal_name": "Adan Mohamed Nooru",
        "slug": "adan-mohamed-nooru"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Deputy Speaker, they are many but I will try to address as many as possible. There are two issues. There is the smuggling of sugar and the most critical one is what measures have been put in place to stop the excess sugar in this country. First and foremost, the importation of sugar arises out of the shortage of local production in this country. So, there is a shortage of over 230 metric tonnes for the local consumption that the local factories cannot meet. That warrants the Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), which is the regulatory body, to authorize the filling of the gap. In most cases, when they authorize 230 metric tonnes, the traders who are given that authority to import may use the same authority to import excess sugar. But where checks can be carried out is at the level of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), who are given the mandate to quantify what is imported by particular traders. That is one way that the excess sugar is getting into this country. The other one is about people declaring sugar as rice or fertilizer. That is also because of lack of checks and balances. There are so many agencies involved. There is the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), KRA, Kenya Ports Authority and so many other people who are supposed to check. The verification of those commodities is not done effectively. That is why there is importation of excess sugar. The other problem is the borders which are supposed to be policed by the Kenya Police, especially the Kenya/Somali border. Where I come from in North Eastern, the border is very wide such that it requires a lot of policing and KRA checks. Sometimes, because of insecurity, those borders are left unmanned. So, people take advantage of that situation and bring in excess sugar. For the measures that have been put in place, it is only yesterday that I said I have not got a satisfactory answer on this matter---"
}