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{
    "id": 965486,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/965486/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 407,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "forthcoming. I hope that the Committee will call those who are concerned with betting and gaming to explain what informed that decision. We cannot on one hand say that betting, lotteries and gaming are reprehensible activities while at the same time allow them in a way that only a certain sector of society will take part. Madam Temporary Speaker, I hope that the proposals by the Committee in this regard will be followed by the House when we go to the Committee stage so that these amendments are made appropriately. There is the amendment that is to be made in the Dairy Industry Act and the Crops Act and the first port of call is that these are activities that are devolved. Agriculture and crop husbandry is devolved. If you look at the tenure of the amendments concerning those two statutes, you will realize that there is a claw back and the national Government is trying to enter into areas whose functions belong to the counties. Why would the national Government want to punish a farmer in Eldoret? Why would the national Government run to Siaya to establish the number of cows that one has and how he is keeping them? Why would they then say that so and so should be fined Kshs30,000? It is totally absurd. I do not know the reason as to why they did not go the whole hog by looking at chicken farming. I do not know the reason as to why they left out the chicken and pigs. These are activities that have been devolved. On the penalties, they are talking of fining someone Kshs20,000 or Kshs30,000. Imagine someone who has one cow, has not committed a criminal offense but is being asked to pay Kshs20,000. It is just a requirement like one that requires someone to drive on the left or the right side of the road. I think that there is something wrong about people who sit down and dream of such a legislation where a farmer in Nakuru is asked to pay Kshs20,000 because he has violated a regulation that was set in Nairobi. The Committee came out strongly with these amendments and it said that these amendments should be made during the Third Committee stage. I am of the view that this Bill should not see the light of day without those particular amendments. I know that the Senator sitting behind me will be the first one to suffer. I think that this Bill was made with him in focus, knowing how much he loves dairy farming. I am also doing some dairy farming in Siaya but this Bill has just discouraged me. I would rather do what my other relatives are doing; brew chang’aa. I also have an issue with the Urban Areas and Cities Act and I do not think that I am the first person to say something about it. The Senate Majority Leader, the Mover, said that regulation emanating from the national Government in respect of cities and urban areas should not be there in the first place. These are devolved units under counties. It is the only other category of devolution which falls under counties. Therefore, Clause 3(a) that is found on page 419 of the Bill on the establishment of the Directorate of Urban Development and Management should not see the light of day unless there is strong representation from county governments in that Directorate. Madam Temporary Speaker, if you turn over the page from pages 419 to 420, you will find under 3A(n) and (o). For example, in (n), it says:- “Undertaking minimum intervention projects in urban areas and cities---” Now, how would the national Government want to make those interventions without the participation of counties? Or is this something that they can dream of at the national level 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."
}