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{
    "id": 821325,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/821325/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 219,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, madam Temporary Speaker. From the outset, I want to thank the Senator for Uasin Gishu County, Sen. (Prof.) Kamar, and one of the prolific leaders of this nation, Sen. Wetangula, for this Motion which was long overdue. If it were not for maize, I would not be who I am today. Although I am not a large-scale farmer, I know the pain that comes with maize farming. The Committee on Justice Legal Affairs and Human Rights, which I Chair, met the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and our main concern was an allegation regarding a ship that was still in the high seas. By time the Gazette notice expired, it had not been received at the Port of Mombasa. Those were the challenges we raised with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). We also asked them what they did with maize issue. They told us they were working with multi-agencies in this country to stop its importation. Madam Temporary Speaker, as we talk about maize, there is the issue of milk powder and wheat from Tanzania. There seems to be a series of well-orchestrated schemes through gazette notices to strangle the farmer in this country. I appreciate the fact we grow maize in Mosop, Chesumei, Tinderet, Emgwen and Nandi Hills in Nandi County. Maize is also grown in other counties such as Kakamega, Vihiga and many other areas in this country. Madam Temporary Speaker, if there is no ugali on the menu, some people will not feel as if they have eaten. I can tell you this for free; if some people eat rice in the evening, that is just like an appetizer or a snack. However, when they have eaten ugali, you feel very nice. As a staple food, what does that mean? We must jealously protect the maize farmers in this country. North Rift and western Kenya are the sources of maize that is consumed by more 40 million Kenyans. I have seen the 2016 Strategic Plan for five years of NCPB which they want to roll out. Apparently, they know there are problems and how to fix them. I want to single out one of the issues in it that was meant for five years. One of the issues was that the NCPB does not offer competitive pricing. They were proposing to convert themselves into commercial entity known as Grain Corporation of Kenya (GCK). We need to restructure the NCPB to meet the demands of farmers. Two months ago, there were 984,102 bags worth of Kshs3 billion which had aflatoxin, therefore, not fit for human consumption. That is very sad. It shows an organisation that is running on mediocrity and lethargy. 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."
}