Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 787912,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/787912/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 557,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The main issue has been; how our counties can move forward in terms of having enough resources. My colleagues have said a lot. The Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.7 of 2018) has come at the right time. I want to emphasise what my colleagues have said. Even as this money is being disbursed to the various counties, it should be used for the intended purpose so that we do not devolve corruption but development to counties. I have seen the issue of the police has been addressed. We do not want to see our security agencies being disadvantaged in terms of funding. I hope the crisis that we are having at the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) will be a thing of the past. I have seen they have allocated Kshs1.2 billion to the Strategic Grain Reserve. However, they have not ensured that there is a model to mop up the grains we harvest in partnership with our counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, we come from the same region. As we talk, there is a crisis in the North Rift because of challenges of accessing fertilisers. Food security is one of the four pillars of the President. Last week when we were discussing The Food Security Bill, 2017, we said there can be no food security when there is no food production. There can be no food production when there are no proper supplements and implements to ensure we have a steady bumper harvest to sustain this country so that we do not end up in the vicious cycle of hunger that we have in this country. Farmers cannot access fertiliser. How can we set up strategic grain reserves to mop up the grains if the farmers cannot produce enough grains that can be put in these strategic grain reserves? In Eldoret Depot, we have challenges accessing of fertiliser. There are allegations that some of the fertiliser that was brought was not DAP but top dressing. In my own county, Nandi County, we have a problem. They have brought the wrong fertiliser. Instead of DAP, they have brought top dressing fertiliser that comes in later after you have planted. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) should take its work seriously. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation must pull up their socks. You will be shocked that from an ordinary farmer who plants half-an-acre to the farmer that plants 1000 acres--- It is interesting that you should have a letter from the chief, the extension officer, your pastor, or from your mpango wa kando to get fertiliser. It should be rectified so that we have a proper way of obtaining a letter so that the right farmers can benefit. This is why we are hearing of corruption. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is good that you come from Uasin Gishu County, which is why when you go to Lessos Depot, people are allegedly paying between Ksh2000 to Kshs2500 to get clearance letters from the chief to be cleared to get those fertilisers. We have also seen that happening in Mosoriot Depot, amongst other areas. As I support The Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bills No.7 of 2018), the Ministry and the Treasury must reengineer and restructure their processes to help farmers access fertiliser quickly so that we do not have to put money in strategic grain reserves and yet farmers have not been paid on a timely basis. There are many challenges facing farmers in the North Rift where the two of us come from and even other regions like Trans Nzoia and Kuria. When farmers sell their produce to the NCPB, they are not paid in full. They are paid in instalments which do not show what they have supplied. 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."
}