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{
    "id": 770938,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/770938/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 174,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Abuor",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13466,
        "legal_name": "Paul Odalo Mak' Ojuando Abuor",
        "slug": "paul-odalo-mak-ojuando-abuor"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to second this Motion. This Motion is important as it intends to bring regulations in establishment of sugar industries. At least, the Motion will also help in organising the sugar sector which is ailing. As you all know, farmers’ payments are delayed and there is also inadequate cane being harvested from the farms. As a Member of Parliament for Rongo Constituency which is a sugarcane growing area, I know the suffering of my people. I can compare with 1980s when sugarcane farmers used to have a lot of income which is not the case now. During the 1980s farmers were paid on time but right now farmers’ payments are being delayed and they are suffering a lot due to that. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, some new millers joined the industry without proper planning on how they are going to harvest their cane. You will find that they do not have enough contracted farmers and cane to run their mills and in the process there is a lot of cane poaching from other factories. This cane poaching makes farmers harvest their crops even before they are mature enough and thereby sell them when they are not ready hence lose a lot in the process. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we all know that the sugar industry is surviving at the mercy of the COMESA safeguards. The cost of production of sugar in Kenya is very high. I think the cost of production in Kenya is among the highest in the world. So, even as we consider putting in regulations for new entrants to the market, let us also see how we can rehabilitate our sugar mills and make them more efficient so that they can produce sugar at a more affordable price so that the cost of production is reduced. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we also know that in the country we have a lot of sugar deficit in the sugar production and some people in the Government have been taking advantage of the situation to allow sugar importation. We are requesting that as we move this Motion, this thing should come to an end. We should only allow imports when there is a real shortage and nothing in excess of what we have as a shortage every year. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is very ironical and sad that as much as the Government at times tends to bail out the sugar industries of their debts, the same Government at times allows excess importation of sugar. So, as we move this Motion, these are the things that should come to an end. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on privatisation of sugar mills, I would like to say that I am happy that 24 per cent of the shares are going to be allocated to farmers from every region, which is a good step. The only thing I would like to explain is that 24 per cent that is supposed to be given to the national Government, I think should be left out for the county governments in the regions where sugar industries are. I know there is a dispute between the national Government and the county governments on the allocation of that 24 per cent. I know that dispute has been referred back to Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC). I would like to assure Members that this is not the IEBC of Mr. Chiloba and Mr. Chebukati. This has been referred to 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."
}