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{
    "id": 86141,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/86141/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 342,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Yinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 154,
        "legal_name": "Edwin Ochieng Yinda",
        "slug": "edwin-yinda"
    },
    "content": "My point was that KTDA has done a lot of good. There are a lot of other issues that have come to the Floor of the House. It is prudent for this House to look at issues with a clear vision. Instead of breaking up what is already working, we should look at ways and means of restructuring it. The Americans put it that why fix it, if it is not broken. I have the same view. I agree that there is need for some restructuring on KTDA. There is a lot that can be done. For example, reducing the number of directors, bringing in factors like who qualifies to be a director of KTDA. In the same breadth, we could look at the composition of the directorship of the Tea Board of Kenya. I totally agree with the Members who contributed to this Bill asking that there should be increased participation by the small scale farmers on the Tea Board formation. On the same breadth, I also think that the formation of the Tea Board cannot be complete unless other tea players are included on the Board. Tea industry in this country is not only controlled by KTDA. KTDA controls about 60 per cent of the tea grown in this country and 40 per cent of the tea is actually held by private local producers and foreign producers. These are also representative of the total tea production or total tea industry in this country. So, any Bill that is being introduced should also have that factor in mind that it is not only KTDA that deals with tea in this country. Tea industry in Kenya also involves the regional countries. We have Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and DRC. All these countries are selling their tea at Mombasa auction. The reason is, the Mombasa auction is one of the best auction centres in the world. It is working, producing and giving results. Therefore, when we talk about restructuring the industry, we should not lose sight that we also have our neighbours who are also bringing their teas to this country to get to the overseas market."
}