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{
    "id": 812782,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812782/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 37,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "some have imported goods worth just Kshs100,000 Kshs600, 000, Kshs1million and Kshs1.5 million aggregating to about Kshs50 million in one consignment. It takes a heartless government official to impound, destroy or auction that consignment. Without caring that they are hurting so many people who have taken small loans to make a living, to educate their children, to meet their medical bills and to make ends meet. One of the enemies of free trade in this country is the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). They are very quick in letting in substandard goods but always blocking genuine but small consignments of small traders’ coming into the country. In fact the KEBS works for criminal cartels in this country. Then you have customs which is a collection centre, they cannot release goods until and unless the importer has ‘talked to them’. I do not know what they mean by “talking to them”. All these things are frustrating free trade for the small people and people who are emerging. You can imagine a fresh graduate from the university takes a small loan of Kshs200,000, joins a big team to import something that will generate another maybe Kshsh100,0000 on top of Kshs200,000. Then it goes up in smoke at the port. It is something that is very sad. I urge the Committee that will be assigned this Petition to carry out a thorough inquiry as to why we have Chinese hawkers in River Road, Nairobi. They should also inquire into why we have hawkers from all over. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have said on this Floor here that the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) cannot be allowed to open a branch in Manchester, Reading or anywhere else in London. You go there to do international business, period! It is only in Kenya where you find Barclays Bank in Karatina, Migori, Bungoma and everywhere else, mopping up local funds. When Barclays Bank makes Kshs20 billion in profit, that is money out of our economy. However, when KCB makes Kshs15 billion in profit, that is money into our economy. We need to have our priorities right. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I urge the Committee that will handle this Petition to look into these things thoroughly so that we can protect the ordinary common man, who is toiling and moiling day and night, through rain and sunshine to make ends meet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir,"
}