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{
    "id": 883982,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/883982/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 276,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Farhiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13179,
        "legal_name": "Farhiya Ali Haji",
        "slug": "farhiya-ali-haji"
    },
    "content": "The other thing I would like to talk about is Clause 24(2) which states that:- “The Authority shall, if the Cabinet Secretary so requires, publish the report, balance sheet and statements submitted to him under subsection (1) in such a manner as the Cabinet Secretary may specify.” We should not restrict people to the wishes of the Cabinet Secretary. We are in a society where our Constitution demands transparency. So, we should make it mandatory for the Authority to put its reports on its website. It is even better that way because anybody with an interest can access them, which is being more transparent. In terms of submitting reports within 14 days, as a Member of the Committee on Finance and Budget, I can tell you that, that short time is creating problems for many institutions. I recommend that it should be 21 days to allow the Cabinet Secretary to give feedback bearing in mind that there could be back and forth on a matter. I want to talk about Clause 28 on penalties. This needs to be reviewed because I feel it is being a bit lenient to the people who will be working for the Authority. These are public offices and the penal code on theft and other vices should apply. Good governance should be encouraged. This is like laissez-faire which means that they can do anything that they wish. In terms of marketing, like I talked about the consumers, the marketing and other stuff need to be handled properly. The farmers are the ones who know where the shoe pinches. So, farmers and consumers as well should be consulted extensively so that at the end of the day, what makes them not to be productive is not replicated in this Bill because we shall be leaving them in the same position. When you read this Bill, there are a lot of issues that inhibit them. So, a lot of improvements are required in this Bill. I thank Sen. Cheruiyot for sponsoring this Bill which aims to take care of the people of Kericho. I did a little research and found out that Kericho is the highest producer of tea in Kenya. The other issue I wanted to address is that as much as we think about our smallholder farmers and how we should address some of their issues, let us not forget large scale farmers because at the end of the day they provide jobs to poor people thus creating employment in the counties. They are also already established and aware of what is going on. That will improve our export of tea and the market that exists currently. I thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker."
}