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{
    "id": 979989,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/979989/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 235,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mathira, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Rigathi Gachagua",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13428,
        "legal_name": "Rigathi Gachagua",
        "slug": "rigathi-gachagua"
    },
    "content": "As a result of that lack of proper regulatory supervision, the cartels in KTDA have taken over the industry. They have overrun and exploited farmers to an extent that those who work so hard and toil everyday have become destitute or paupers in their country. They have become beggars. In this year’s bonus, the farmers in Kagochi Tea Factory in my constituency got Kshs28. They are not even able to pay their bills. Ndima Tea Factory got Ksh32 only. This is because the people who have taken over the industry, because of lack of supervision, have become cartels and they are just exploiting farmers. Therefore, this Bill will create the Tea Board of Kenya which will come up with mechanisms and regulations to supervise the processors, dealers, marketers, agencies and brokers. We need a very strong regulator to focus on what needs to be done on a day-to-day basis, so that farmers can have money in their pockets. KTDA has become a rogue organisation because of lack of a supervisor. We need to rein in KTDA which has been involved with cartels and insider trading. Forty per cent of the tea is sold under the table without going through the auction. There is a deal between KTDA and the people who buy tea abroad. Our tea is the best in the world. It gets the best prices in the world and yet, the farmers get nothing because of that collusion. KTDA has left the work of marketing tea for the farmers and gone into other activities that have nothing to do with making sure that the farmers are okay. They have gone into generation of hydro power, insurance, real estate and banking. It is so sad that KTDA gets money from farmers. Instead of giving it to the farmers, they put it in their bank and then they lend it to them with an interest. This is theft and exploitation. These are some of the things that we believe that once we get a strong regulator, they will rein in and make sure that those things are going on properly."
}