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{
    "id": 815006,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/815006/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 151,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "This, coupled with skewed policies like Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965, institutionalised or legislated marginalisation in this country. It is after 50 years that we, as Kenyans, decided that we have to come up with a Constitution whose main agenda is devolution. We went ahead, in Article 6 of the Constitution and came up with two levels of government. We said very clearly in Article 6(2) of the Constitution that- “The governments at the national and county levels are distinct and inter-dependent and shall conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation.” This does not mean that one form of government is subordinate to the other. In the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, we assigned the two levels of government their various functions. Madam Temporary Speaker, this Bill deals with agriculture and the Fourth Schedule is very clear on that. In Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule, Kenyans gave the national Government function No.29, which is the function of just coming up with the agricultural policy and nothing else. However, Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule started with agriculture, as the first function of county governments. It states- “The functions and powers of the county are— 1. Agriculture, including— (a) crop and animal husbandry; (b) livestock sale yards; (c) county abattoirs; (d) plant and animal disease control; and (e) fisheries.” Therefore, we are very clear on who does what. The national Government should just be doing agricultural policy, while the actual implementation of that policy should then be by the county governments. This should be done in such a way that we are still one Government having the same policies but every county implementing according to its specific needs. Madam Temporary Speaker, due to climate change, for us who come from pastoral areas, pastoralism is now no longer a sustainable way of livelihood; neither is rain-fed agriculture for those who come from areas where they practise that. Therefore, the best way forward is water-fed or dry area agriculture where each county will have to implement what is suitable for them. This is because different soils support different kinds of crops. Those of us from pastoral areas might even be thinking of growing pasture for our animals through these irrigation systems. Therefore, once the national Government comes up with the policy, we expect county governments, through their county assemblies to come up with specific legislation applicable to food production within their jurisdictions. That is why we have county assemblies. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we come, sit here in Nairobi and come up with a Bill like this one – which says that it is the Cabinet Secretary (CS) to come up with the development and implementation of matters of agriculture – then the Senate, which is 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."
}