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{
    "id": 868660,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/868660/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 91,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Makueni, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Daniel Maanzo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am also in the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives. My Chairman, Hon. Kanini Kega, has put the record very straight in as far as this law is concerned. This is a very important law when it comes to trade, the movement of goods and the recognised international standards. This borrows heavily from the practice in South Africa and the United Kingdom which are some of our main trading partners. We had an organisation which was already handling this, pursuant to a Presidential Order. There was a need to make a law to make sure that all matters pertaining to trade and the standard of goods are regularized and people are able to check quality and standards. This does not conflict with the activities of Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) or Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). They can complement each other where there are issues. This means the standard of goods coming to Kenya and leaving Kenya can be checked. The moment this body approves, a corresponding body in a different country will also certify. It will make it easier for goods to move. Other than that, the goods will be determined whether they are of merchandise quality via international agreement. It is a very important body in Kenya, it helps suppliers. It will make sure that our goods are trusted outside there. They will ascertain that proper qualities as recognised by KEBS and KEMRI have already been accepted. There is also the multi-agency body that makes sure goods are of good quality in this Act. All those will work together so that they can facilitate trade with different bodies in the world, including the Arab world. One of our main concerns is the beef that we produce in our country. Other countries are ahead of us because they have this sort of law ahead of us. With this law being enacted in Kenya, it is going to make it very easy for our goods to move faster in the world. Of importance to note is that there is a process in case one is not satisfied by what the new body we are creating is doing. They have an opportunity to appeal. Once they have that opportunity and they feel there goods are being held unnecessarily, or are being prevented from coming to the country or leaving it, they still have recourse at the High Court. Very important in this are the regulations, which the CS in charge of trade is likely to make. This is where the Committee on Delegated Legislation comes in. There is a whole chapter on that. Hon. Duale, the Leader of the Majority Party, has captured it very well. He has really understood this Bill and its purpose. I believe the House will support it so that we increase international trade in our country. I thank the Committee and the Chair for a job thoroughly done, especially when we were doing public participation. We call stakeholders to make an input. In fact, I must tell the House The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}