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{
    "id": 664273,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/664273/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 62,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Opiyo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1174,
        "legal_name": "Jared Odhiambo Opiyo",
        "slug": "jared-odhiambo-opiyo"
    },
    "content": "have huge challenges in this country is corporate mismanagement. It is one of the single-most important things that have to be addressed before any one talks about the sale of sugar factories. I want to categorically state that the sugar sector supports close to 7 million livelihoods in this country. When we say that we want to reduce VAT for sugarcane on transport, we are simply saying we are going to improve the livelihood of 7 million Kenyans. With 7 million Kenyans having additional income in their pockets, we will take this economy forward. We have been faced with competition from foreign markets, especially with the signing of the COMESA Protocol. If we want to be competitive, one of the ways is to reduce the cost of the production of our sugar. The cost of transporting sugarcane contributes to nearly 30 per cent of the total cost of sugar production. Reducing VAT on transportation will go a long way in bringing down the cost of our domestic sugar. It is incumbent upon any government to ensure that its people and the local businesses are protected. It is upon this Government to protect sugarcane farmers, the sugar industry and our local sugar market. As an hon. Member has said, if you go to Nakumatt Supermarket, you will find that they have packaged sugar and branded it as their own. You will find Nakumatt Sugar and Tuskys Sugar, among others. I have not seen any sugar manufacturing factory by the name “Nakumatt Sugar Manufacturing Company”. Where on earth do they get the sugar from? It is cheap sugar from South Sudan, Brazil and elsewhere, which is brought into the country illegally. It may even be through the Kenya-Somalia border. It is then repackaged. This hurts our industry. You remember when there was a serious debate in this country about the intended importation of sugar from Uganda, many Members of Parliament from the sugarcane growing areas were up in arms. It was right to understand their feelings. It is known that Uganda does not even have adequate sugar for its market. We were wondering how they would start exporting sugar into our country, if it is not the cheap and illicit sugar from elsewhere. The Government must wake up and try to protect the sugar industry. As we speak, there is a big crisis at South Nyanza Sugar Company (SONY), which is where I come from. Farmers are planning a major protest on Friday 17th June, 2016. They are citing frustrations from the management of that company. I have also been reliably informed that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) is travelling down there on Friday to see what is happening. Our farmers have been frustrated enough. The idea of bringing down the cost of transportation of sugarcane will go a long way in alleviating some of their suffering. I appreciate my brother, Hon. Wafula Wamunyinyi and other Members, for supporting this Bill. I hope that other hon. Members will support it when it comes to the vote. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}