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{
    "id": 619488,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/619488/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 291,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nooru",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2238,
        "legal_name": "Adan Mohamed Nooru",
        "slug": "adan-mohamed-nooru"
    },
    "content": "been obsolete for many years. We have recommended fast-tracking of the privatisation of the five Government-owned sugar mills. The last issue is on farm inputs like fertilisers. Every sugar miller imports their own fertilisers and sells it to the farmers at very exorbitant prices. We thought that there should be some kind of mechanism for ensuring bulk procurement of items like fertiliser and farm machinery. The Committee recommendations are as follows :- (i) That the Government establishes a permanent inter-agency enforcement unit on sugar trade to enhance Government’s capacity to scrutinise, verify and monitor cross-border sugar trade in addition to setting up a border patrol unit to eradicate sugar smuggling into this country. The units should be drawn from institutions like the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the Ministry of Health, the AFFA – which is a regulatory body; KEBS, the Kenya Police Service and the KRA. (ii) The KRA officers be investigated and appropriate action taken against officers who clear sugar dealers without regular permits from the regulator. Any company that imports sugar without a permit from the regulator should be banned from importing sugar into this country anymore. (iii) The Reinforcement of repackaging of unregulated sugar to ensure consumer safety and that KEBS be held responsible for failure of preventing abuse of seal, which is supposed to be in their safe custody. The standard measures for safety of goods in the country have consistently been abused. Their seal is stolen and everything is stamped as having been inspected by the KEBs. How the stamps get out of their custody and are misused by others is yet to be questioned. (iv) Relevant laws and regulations governing sugar imports and exports should be amended to provide for high accountability and public health standards for repackaging of sugar and for stiffer penalties for the offenders. The Government should cancel import licences for the following companies which have used industrial sugar as table sugar by repackaging it: Kenafric Industries, Czarnikow East Africa Limited, Stuntwave Limited, Mshale Commodities and Rising Star Commodities. We found that these companies are repackaging industrial sugar for the purpose of table sugar. (v) The Government implements the Sugar Industry Strategic Agenda for increased competitiveness and reduction in consumer prices. There is need to lower production costs, improve extension services among the farmers to reduce and eventually eliminate the incentive to smuggled sugar into the country. When we control our prices and reduce the cost of production, obviously, the price of sugar will come down and this will stop the temptations of illegal importation of sugar across the borders. (vi) The national Government in collaboration with the county governments should provide mechanisms for coordinated infrastrure development to avoid duplication of responsibility by different bodies mandated to maintain roads. 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."
}