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    "id": 784120,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784120/?format=api",
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    "content": "enjoy it without any hindrance. The work is now bestowed upon us, as Legislators, to give and breathe life into this piece of legislation. In that manner, we will help Kenyans from every corner of our nation to enjoy food security. I like the phrase that has been used in this document; it is not just about the quality but even the quantity is something that we need to consider as Legislators because it is a world of a difference. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me go straight into the preliminary part of this document where it speaks about this Act of Parliament giving effect to Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. I like the definitions that have been put forth in these preliminary notes in Part 1 of this Bill. It continues to define what I have just spoken about and what they mean by adequate food, that it must be provided and served in good quality and quantity. Perhaps, they forgot to add that it must be in good temperature as well. Another brilliant definition in this preliminary part of this Bill is “At risk persons”. These are people that many at times we do not spare a thought for. I am sure as you drive out of Parliament on many occasions and get stuck in traffic before Hotel Inter- Continental, you get knocks on the windows of your tinted limousine or the nice car that you drive. These are young mothers and children begging for food. Many at times, we do not put a thought to it because we imagine that these are just a nuisance of people that do not want to work hard. It is good that we are now putting it in legislation; that there are people in this country who are known as “at risk persons” and who do not have means of putting food on their table – that is if they have a table – or in their mouth, because that is where we want this food to end. It is great that we have finally put a definition and when we are considering people that need to be given priority in terms of being food secure, we have defined even street families. These people wake up and have nowhere to call home or somewhere to source for food. They are being catered for and it will be the duty of the Authority that we shall put into place, upon the passage of this Bill, to think of how we can ensure that even street families are catered for. Back in the day, this issue was confined to cities but like many Senators have noted, of late, we are beginning to grapple with it even in the villages where you have families that have disproportionately sold off their land and you end up with children who have nowhere to go. This definition will ensure that such people, at least, are given good consideration. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Bill also continues to define something that is extremely interesting to me; that is, food of acceptable quality. I know that those of us that are not very young – I say that tongue in cheek because I might be the youngest in this Chamber– remember the saga that was the yellow maize back in the 1990s.The maize was brought to the country to cure drought which had ravaged the country, but it attracted condemnations from our people. Our people felt that yellow maize was not good for human consumption culturally, among other things. When we were growing up, we knew that our staple food was white ugali. When many families turned up and realised that the ugali was yellow, they opted to stay away. We have put in a good definition of “acceptable quality” because back then, the big debate was: “Is this imported maize meant for human consumption?” There have 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."
}