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{
    "id": 882446,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/882446/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 406,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherargei",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise to second this important Bill by the distinguished Senator for Kericho County, Sen. Cheruiyot. He has done excellently in terms of giving out the background of what ails the tea sector. Madam Temporary Speaker, from the onset, the tea sector has been left at the expense of a liturgy and cartels who ensure that farmers, anywhere you go – from Bomet, Kericho, Nandi or even the former central province, among other areas that grow tea – there are always complains. Madam Temporary Speaker, as Sen. Cheruiyot has said clearly, we rely on tea. Out of the six sub counties in Nandi County; Tinderet, Nandi Hills – which hosts the major multinational companies, and since you are the neighbour, you are aware of this – Emgwen, Aldai, Mosop and Chesumei; almost the entire of Nandi County grows tea and rely heavily on it. It is good that Sen. Cheruiyot has tried to elaborate about the ownership, profits and many other things that some of these multinational companies have invested in terms of shareholding in the tea sector. However, the only thing that you will hear farmers complaining about are the bonuses, because it is something they know. However, when you talk about the investments that come in, among other things, it is unfortunate. Madam Temporary Speaker, there are also many other things that tea farmers complain about, amongst which is that they do not have a voice in terms of the decisions made. This is especially by the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA), which is one of the key authorities that regulates a lot of the happenings within the tea sector. Madam Temporary Speaker, in the spirit of Article 174 and in the spirit of devolution, I would have wished the headquarters to be in Nandi. However, because Kericho grows more tea, has most of the multinational companies and over 90 per cent of the country relies heavily on tea; it would be prudent to devolve some of these things to go where the real action happens. Some of us fully support him when he said that Kericho should be the headquarters of this authority because that is where the action is. Doing that will make it convenient for farmers in terms of managing their affairs. Why should somebody come and stay in air conditioned office here in Nairobi and make blanket decisions without going and listening to what the tea farmers are complaining about? For example, in that region, it will be convenient for Nandi because it is nearer Bomet and many other areas that grow tea. Now that most areas, including Elgeyo Marakwet County – where the Senate Majority Leader comes from – also grows tea. If we have it in Kericho, it will be very important because it will be nearer to ensure that we move forward. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}