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{
    "id": 936591,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/936591/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kihika",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13216,
        "legal_name": "Susan Wakarura Kihika",
        "slug": "susan-wakarura-kihika"
    },
    "content": "promises made. We should also come up with ways of entrenching this; whether they be caucuses or whatever they would be, so that we are able to harness those relationships and get an advantage or benefits for our people. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Kenya Parliament delegation to both the 139th and the 140th inter-Parliamentary union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings, pursuant to Article 7 of the IPU Statutes, urges the two Houses of Parliament to note this Report and follow up on the implementation of the declaration and resolutions of the 140th IPU Assembly and related meetings. In that 140th Assembly meeting, there were some declarations that the Parliamentarians agreed to that we are to bring to our own individual Parliaments so that they can go a long way if the individual Parliaments are able to implement the declarations as well as the resolutions. They are included on the Report, but I will briefly outline them. First, there was a concern on the communities about the impact of globalisation in terms of workforce, displacement and other harmful distortionary effects. One, the parliamentarians reaffirmed the vital importance of the rules-based, transparent, equitable and non-discriminatory multilateral approach to trade and investment. This is centred on the WTO and arbitration mechanisms. Two, to reaffirm the contribution that fair, free and sustainable trade and properly regulated foreign investments can lead to reducing poverty, inequality, instability and conflicts in our different countries. It also underlined the importance of integrating sustainable consumption and production into trade and investment, legal frameworks, policies and regulations. There was a panel discussion on food safety in our countries. When I talk about that, I recall a few days ago that in our country, we have seen things like flour being recalled from supermarkets. We have all heard of other food substances not being safe for consumption. That was one of the issues that was dealt with at the Assembly. It is important that we protect our citizens by making sure that there are some regulated standards in the foods that are sold in our markets. We do not want to be so specific that we have a uniform sort of laws, but it now makes it very important in our country to have that sort of law. This is because we seem to be at the mercy of various cartels in different fields. In the maize sector, we hear about the ugali flour, which many of our people depend on. Other times we have heard that our vegetables are grown on sewages. I do not have the evidence for that, but I am sure we have all read about it in the social media, which makes it extremely scary. We, as a Parliament, cannot also just sit back and fold our hands. A couple of days ago, I heard on the Floor of the Senate that the issue was referred to the Committee on Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries. I look forward to seeing what it is that they will come up with, so that be it the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) or any other institutions, they regulates what gets on the cabinets in our houses. This will ensure that we do not have products with cancer causing carcinogens without any sort of regulations. It has been very free for all market and it is time we regulated it. Food security was one of our discussions in the IPU Assembly. One of our Members of Parliament was in that panel. As we move forward, we must have a healthier world. 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."
}