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{
    "id": 784080,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784080/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 274,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "subdivision. The first generation of land holders, the ones before Independence and slightly after independence, some have passed away. Others have left farming because they are old and their children have taken over. However, those children do not have that tradition of land ownership like their fathers had. They are subdividing the land and selling it. In another 10 years to 20 years, those areas will not continue producing food for this country. The Government must ensure that there is availability, accessibility, adaptability and acceptable food for all Kenyans by making provisions for access to production resources, income and support. It must also provide and maintain an enabling environment. Under the Agriculture Act, the Government has no obligation. When asked why they are not subsidising products, they talk about free market and so forth. However, it is now an obligation of the Government to ensure that they provide an enabling environment, including resources for that protection of food producers as stipulated under Article 43 of the Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill makes even succinct that the Government must put in place mechanisms that ensure there is availability of farm inputs and implements for food production. There must be physical access to food; that means minimum dietary needs of persons or communities suffering or threatened with starvation. There is another programme that the Government runs, which is related to access to food under the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA). We talk generally about the department related with special programmes. Giving food to people when they have challenges, when there is drought and situations of diseases. It is now not just a favour. It is not one of those things that the Government can say they have gone out of their way to do (1), (2) and (3). The Constitution, at Article 43, states that the right to food is a basic right. This Bill states that it is not just a right. Under this Bill, the Government is obligated to make sure that we have the minimum dietary needs of the children in areas where people are starving. ASAL areas have challenges. However, there are areas that are not ASAL, but have a lot of challenges. For example, counties like Kilifi and Kwale have challenges because of historical injustices. One of the problems of the former coast province - and people may not understand this unless it is explained to them by sociologists or people who have studied ways of living of people - is that when you oppress people for so long, their self- confidence is affected. When it is affected, we get to a situation where the former coast province is today. Where we have land challenges, the issue of food occurs and so forth. The issue of food is not only a challenge for the national Government, but also for county governments. Therefore, what governors should have done immediately they took office, especially in the marginalised areas, was to change the mindset of their people. Their first responsibility, for example, the Governor of Kilifi, was not to continue telling them that they had been marginalised for a long time, but to give them hope. Leaders are dealers in hope. They would have changed their mindset so that they think differently and see how best they could spend their own our resources from the national Government. They would have told them that they had an opportunity to change their county. What happened instead? They stole money and even now they continue to do so. I do not 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."
}