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{
    "id": 980637,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/980637/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 248,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiminini, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Dr. Chris Wamalwa",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": " Millet is insignificant as far as contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this country is concerned in statistical terms. That is why I talked about the issue of context. In this case, a product like tea, because of its significant value in terms of contribution to the GDP, needs focus. It needs a specific parastatal that will focus on critical issues for it to succeed. That is because in terms of employment, you will agree with me that tea has provided a lot of employment compared to sorghum or millet. Actually, the Member is aware that millet in terms of employment is insignificant. When you go to the KTDA offices in Mombasa, you will see that auctioneers have employed an amazing number of employees. That is why I say it needs focus. So AFA should have given key priority to key products or crops. Tea and millet cannot have the same value. It must be proportionate. In the last Parliament, I had an opportunity to accompany His Excellency the President for a trip to Turkey. When we got there, we had a meeting with the President of Turkey. I remember His Excellency President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta requesting the President of Turkey to reduce the taxation levied on Kenyan tea when it lands there. When you do a comparative analysis in terms of quality, our tea is very powerful. It is of very good quality internationally. The Turkey tea quality is substandard for it to succeed in the market. But it is about the welfare of the people of Turkey. When our tea lands there, the taxation is almost 30 per cent. So, it cannot compete. I vividly remember the answers His Excellency was given. The President of Turkey said tea is the welfare of my people. If at all we are going to reduce the taxation on Kenyan tea, it means our tea will not sell. So, our Kenyan tea is of good quality. We have heard this being said by the Members of Parliament who represent tea growing areas. In my constituency of Kiminini, I do not have tea. But because I am aspiring to be the Governor of Trans Nzoia, there is tea in Cherangany. So, I am also speaking on behalf of the farmers of Cherangany who grow tea. They are watching and can see their representative is talking. So, tea must be given a lot of attention. Many have complained that KTDA is a cartel. Where I have married, they grow tea. When I visit them after they have been paid bonus, I see good things at my father-in-law’s home and everybody else’s. It is true that it is a source of livelihood and not just in Central Kenya. Even when you go to Western in Kakamega, Trans Nzoia, Kericho and Elgeyo Marakwet, there is a lot of tea. This is a product that cuts across the entire country. So, it is not just an issue of a specific county. It is a product that needs a lot of focus. If KTDA has failed, we must know how to engage the stakeholders so as to improve its value. That is because as it was said initially, it was a parastatal. But now it is a private firm. We are told that many cartels are based there. So, what should we do to eliminate those cartels? Recently, the President gave an Executive Order pertaining to those crops. There was some money which was injected. Hon. Nelson Koech mentioned that he has not seen any capital being injected. As a matter of fact, the President has been very magnanimous to the tea and coffee growing areas. Maize farmers, like us, are the ones who have suffered the most together 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."
}