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{
    "id": 548202,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/548202/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "May 6, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 25 Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, listening to Sen. Kiraitu and Sen. Haji, it reminds me of the need for us to approach this matter with a lot of care and greater sobriety. This is because the situation on the ground in Bomet and Kericho is that the leases are just about to expire. So, unless we allow the National Land Commission to be completely in control and completely block politicians from the unfolding events in Kericho and Bomet, we can destroy the economy of this country. I come from one of the areas in this country where we had the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) farms. Those ADC farms had made the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) and the former Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) stable, but as soon as they were divided into small portions, we have become food insecure. Therefore, we will need to be very sober. On Monday, I had an opportunity to sit in the morning for a cup of tea at Ray’s Hotel in Kericho. It is so beautiful and when you look across, you will see the former home of the current Governor of Kericho. Given that he also normally has an opportunity to sit there, one can understand very well why he has gone to court. We should, in the interest of protecting Kericho County, stand behind the Governor, but persuade him that they should not be looking forward to repossess the land, but get some form of compensation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my last point, as I congratulate Mr. Rop, is that he has spoken for many. He has spoken for the tea farmers in Vihiga, Kakamega South and Kakamega East. We have all been saddled with debts that we have been paying and special cartels that sit at the tea auction at the end of the year just arbitrarily decide that the farmers of the regions that I have mentioned will get a bonus of Kshs8 per kilogramme, but the farmers in other areas where members of this cartels come from, get Kshs39 per kilogramme. You do not understand what it is that the tea from Limuru and Kirinyaga has that can make a difference of Kshs31 by way of bonus. We will need to be very sober. Tea was initially one of the highest contributors to the foreign exchange that we earn in this country. Since we see where we are going in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this country, we must protect the tea industry. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this Petition."
}