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{
    "id": 663317,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/663317/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 298,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "June 9, 2016 SENATE DEBATES 50 Sen. Melly",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, looking at Article 69 of the Constitution, which the Senate Majority Leader read, I wish to make reference to part (c) and (e) which state as follows:- 69. (1) The State shall— “ ( c ) protect and enhance intellectual property in, and indigenous knowledge of, biodiversity and the genetic resources of the communities; ( e ) protect genetic resources and biological diversity;” We all agree that agriculture is the backbone of our economy. The more we leave it to decline the more we kill our economy. That is why this Bill is here today, to ensure that we take serious steps to protect it and this includes passing this amendment Bill to ensure as stated that:- “There is established a Plant Genetic Resources Centre for Food and Agriculture, which shall be responsible for the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, including indigenous seeds and plant varieties in Kenya.” The Mover has said in proposed (3) of this amendment Bill that:- “There shall be a Plant Genetic Resources Committee for food and Agriculture, which shall provide oversight on matters relating to the Centre.” Clause 3A further states that- “The management of the Centre shall comprise of the Director of the Centre and the Plant Genetic Resources Advisory Committee.” This kind of leadership was not there before. This is the only way we can protect indigenous plants that all of us are aware were use not only for food, but also for medicinal purposes. This is vanishing because there is no clear law and guideline to protect the same property that was kept for a very long time by our parents. The coming into effect of this amendment Bill means that we will now have a structured leadership which will ensure that the management of these resources, as enshrined in Article 69 of our Constitution, will ensure that there is a body that is responsible for conservation, utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture, including the seeds and plants varieties in Kenya. Lastly, is on the formation of the Advisory Committee and the Director of the Center. This means that from now going forward, the issues that could not be dealt with for a long time because there were no clear guidelines, no laid down procedures and no good structures to ensure that we protect some genetic resources will now be put in place. Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir, in the interest of time, I support."
}