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{
    "id": 521170,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/521170/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 224,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ng’ongo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "Whichever the problems we may be having with those private companies, to me the best way to go is to have commercialisation of sugar production by private hands. As we move towards privatisation, I agree with my colleagues especially those who have opposed this Report and more particularly hon. Nyikal, hon. Jared K’Opiyo and Kobado. I also listened to hon. Onyango K’Oyoo who painfully argued like one who really represents sugar farmers. I agree that something drastic needs to be done if we are going to privatise these sugar factories. We need to see who is going to buy them because this is the elephant in the room. I hear that some people who are supposed to be the strategic investors are the ones who are already championing this notion that is put in the Report that Chemelil Sugar Company and Muhoroni Sugar Company should be merged to increase the acreage. I think there is something sinister in this proposition or proposal. Why do we add together the 18,000 acres and 22,000 acres to arrive at an arbitrary figure of 29,000 acres? We are being told that, that is the required acreage. Where is that report showing us that the break-even-crushing capacity is supposed to be 29,000 acres? I think what we have witnessed in the sugar industry is indiscipline from the part of the Government to protect this very important sector of the economy. We know the people who import sugar into this country even when we produce enough of it. We know very well that the Government has not been giving these companies and factories enough support to be able to compete with other players including those who are importing sugar into this country. This industry has been the source of wealth of some senior people not just in the Government but also out of it. We know that getting into this sugar business or importing sugar is almost impossible because it is a cartel. I am told that you can even lose your life if you dare do it. A lot of things go wrong in this sector and privatisation is a good step but not the only way to solve the problems in the sugar industry. My proposal to this House, therefore, is to support the privatisation but also look at the sugar industry in totality and address the factors that are ailing it. Hon. Nyikal has just mentioned the issue of Mumias Sugar Company (MSC), which is in private hands yet it is still struggling. Mumias Sugar Company is struggling because of greed and corruption by certain specific individuals who are known and have made money yet Kenyans are glorifying them for being wealthy. You know one thing that I find very strange with Kenyans is you know thieves, they steal from us; they steal from poor people - these farmers are very poor – and after they have stolen then what you do is that you start glorifying them. You start telling people these are wealthy people and you start accepting them. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the moment Kenyans will stop accepting contributions whether charitable from corrupt individuals in this country; the moment we go on strike not to allow ourselves even to associate with these people; we will help ourselves. But here is a case where you find Members of Parliament - I am not casting aspersion on anybody. If I am representing farmers in this country and these farmers are suffering because of hon. Waweru - please allow me to use your name although I know you have no interest in the sugar industry. If the same hon. Waweru who is making my people suffer is also my friend and he steals money--- If, for example, my fishermen in Lake Victoria are suffering yet I allow the person who is making them suffer do a The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}