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{
    "id": 980064,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980064/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 310,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mukurweini, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Anthony Kiai",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13439,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Githiaka Kiai",
        "slug": "anthony-githiaka-kiai"
    },
    "content": "I remember when President Uhuru was in Mombasa, he bitterly complained about the cartels that are controlling the tea industry. Whereby the brokers end up getting about 70 per cent of the sale and the farmers end with the short-end of the stake which is about 30 per cent. This is something of national interest given that tea is an important crop of in this country. Formulation of policies is also captured in the Act. We need to know how it will regulate the small-scale farmer against the multi-nationals in Kericho. Should it formulate policies that relate to small-scale farmers and multi-nationals with plantations in Kisii, Kericho and other areas? We need to come up with clear-cut issues on the guaranteed returns for this tea farmer. The reason why tea farmers are so poor is because the Government has not come up with a policy to guarantee returns to certain crops. This is the only way you can spur development and cultivation of serious crops like coffee and tea. The other day I was in Morocco and saw their tea. I asked the consulate there how they get it and he said they import Kenyan tea in bulk and label the same as Moroccan tea and it fetches a lot of money. Now, we have a chance to come up with a policy to ensure that there is value addition right in Kenya all the way to where it is consumed by foreigners. This is because when tea is sold raw in bulk form, it does not benefit farmers. The ones who benefit are other people out there who do value addition and sell that tea as local tea. There is Turkish tea and, in our supermarkets, you can find tea from other corners of the world like India and Sri Lanka. Why should we allow dumping of tea in Kenya that is grown elsewhere yet, we are said to produce the best quality tea in this side of the earth? My take is that we should insert in the Act issues to do with dumping of low-quality tea from other areas especially by unscrupulous businessmen who are out to make money. We need to protect our farmers. Yesterday, one of our colleagues raised an issue of when a Kenyan delegation visited Turkey and wanted the Turkey Government to open up the market for Kenyan tea. The retort they got was that if this was done, they would destroy tea farming in Turkey. Why are we not putting in place similar measures here? We should ensure that those who bring something easily available in our country pay a premium custom for it to get into Kenya. This will be very unattractive in terms of business. I also know that KTDA is a creation of non-tea farmers. Looking at the composition we need to ensure that the representation of the farmer is seen and election of directors is driven by the farmers. Otherwise, when the Board has so many people who are appointed by the Government then, Government is getting into the tea industry. This is not only to control but to formulate policies and export the same. Where do the farmers play a role? Does their role end up in producing tea and handing it over to the Government or any other agency and then lose control? No, it should not be that way. When KTDA was formulated in those days it was meant to cater for the interests of the farmers but it turned out to be a cartel and the worst kind of decision made by farmers. It should be liberalised to ensure it serves the interests of the farmers. Ours being an agrarian economy, we should ensure that every other crop that has commercial or economic value in this country is supported. This will ensure implementation of the agenda four of our manufacturing and promoting agriculture. Otherwise, if we do not do this, we will end up being an import economy. I support, thank you. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}