Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 948662,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/948662/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 244,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Were",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13183,
        "legal_name": "Petronila Were Lokorio",
        "slug": "petronila-were-lokorio"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to contribute and support the Report of the ad-hoc Committee that was inquiring into the challenges facing the tea sector. We have been told here by Sen. Omogeni that farmers in Kisii region are threatening to uproot tea bushes. I witnessed some of my friends, who are farmers in that region actually uprooting their tea bushes because of the challenges that this Committee was inquiring into. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have also seen that tea is an export crop which earns this country foreign exchange. I farmers are going to uproot tea bushes because of the mismanagement of this sector, then we are going to have a reduction in our foreign exchange earnings and we know the repercussions of that; it is a ripple effect to the rest of the economy. The Committee in their inquiries discovered that there are so many management issues in Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA). One of the most profound was that of leadership; that directors within KTDA are chosen on nepotism or favoritism grounds and the leadership is not regionally balanced within that area. Most of the leadership comes from the east, yet we have tea growing areas in the west of the Rift Valley. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Report also has highlights on lack of transparency in the operationalization of the tea factories. If people do not see transparency and accountability, they lose trust in that organization and as such, lose confidence in their own farming methods. Back then, when we were growing up, many of our friends whose parents were tea farmers were the envy of those of us whose parents were, for example, maize farmers. This is because they used to earn well, the children used to be well taken care of; they were never sent home from school for lack of fees because their parents could afford. Reading the Report and listening to Members who went around to get the views from the tea farmers, farmers are complaining that they are not able to meet the basic needs of their families. Therefore, the recommendations of this Report, which include that many of the middle men along the value chain be reduced, must be implemented fully. It is even late; it has been three months since this Report was brought here. I request the Committee Members, especially the Chair, Sen. Aaron Cheruiyot, to follow up on the implementation of some of these recommendations, particularly, the 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."
}