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{
    "id": 565630,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/565630/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 354,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ong’era",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13117,
        "legal_name": "Janet Ongera",
        "slug": "janet-ongera"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to conclude my contribution to this Bill. As I indicated yesterday, this is a very good Bill which, for the first time in the history of our country, brings a law to regulate issues of food security, particularly to give effect to Articles 21, 43 and 53 of the Constitution. This Bill seeks to ensure that there is adequate food in this country and not only adequate food but also good quality food. The food must also be nutritious. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, these are some of the issues with regard to food security that we have sought for a very long time and we did not get legislations that translated into law. However, I have some concerns which I hope the Mover will address. I hope that by formulating this Bill and eventually enacting it will not be another way of using the back door to bring back the principle of the management of food in this country by the national Government. As you are aware, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries was devolved to the counties and with that, the issues of food security were also devolved. I want to particularly look at Part 3, Clause 11 of the Bill. I did not expect a national authority to be formulated. I expected to see a county food security authority which is specific to the needs of each county. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as you are aware, concerns of food security differ from one county to another. For example, I feel that the situation in Marsabit County will not be the same in Kisii County. Therefore, there was need of forming a county food security authority, so that we get people who are experts and tailored for that county’s specific needs, as opposed to having a national authority, whereby there is a chairperson appointed by the President, a Principal Secretary for the designated Ministry for Devolution and Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the 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."
}