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{
    "id": 99447,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/99447/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 272,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Balala",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Tourism",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 9,
        "legal_name": "Najib Mohamed Balala",
        "slug": "najib-balala"
    },
    "content": "The Tenth Parliament will go on record for bringing innovative Bills that are progressive and dynamic. I also want to confirm that the Government is committed and moving very fast. When we formed the Grand Coalition Government, the Government, first of all, established two critical Ministries which had been ignored. One of them is the Ministry of Livestock Development. It was a good beginning to establish that Ministry and move very fast. As you are aware, the Ministry of Livestock Development was just a department within the Ministry of Agriculture, and the priority of food security was purely on production of mainly maize rather that looking at its alternatives. It is important for us to appreciate the fact that the Government has been able to establish such institutions, so that it can address issues relating to livestock. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, a month ago, the Cabinet approved a Bill, which will be coming here any time soon, which seeks to address issues of livestock. The Minister in charge has moved very fast to address those issues. So, he will be here any time to table the same legal framework that will support this sector. Beef and milk production is very important for our economy as well as a measure to address food security. I was recently in Argentina, where I attended the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Conference, to which I am the Vice-President. Argentina is recognised as having the best beef in the world. I asked myself: What is so peculiar that Argentina can do it and we, in Kenya, cannot do it? I think this Bill is going to improve the quality of certification of that product. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am also a very spiritual person. I just performed Hajj two years ago. I went to Mecca and performed Hajj. During that time, there were over 4.5 million people attending the pilgrimage. Each one of us, after the end of the pilgrimage, in order to confirm one’s ritual, had to slaughter an animal. I asked myself: Can we bring livestock to Saudi Arabia to sell them to the pilgrimage to be able to deliver? All the livestock in Mecca were coming from Australia. I was saddened. This is a market where every year, each of 4.5 million people has to slaughter an animal. We are missing out on that market. The market is available. We only have to appreciate the natural resources and what we have in those areas called ASAL. Those areas might appear to be useless since they are made of sand and deserts, but they have wealth. Those people who are called nomads are not just roaming around. They are actually looking after their wealth. That is their pride. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, look at a country like Botswana. Before they discovered diamonds, they were running their economy on livestock. In this country, we only look at the dairy cattle, but what happens to the camel? I can tell you that if, today, we had enough camel to sell to the Middle East, they will not only use it for meat and milk, but they will also use camels for sporting. People in the Middle East value camels so much. To them, buying a camel is like buying a Ferrari car to compete in a race. It is, therefore, important for us to appreciate that livestock is not just about meat and milk. There are lots of things we can do with livestock. The economies of Italy, Spain and South America are well known for their leather industry. What are we doing, through livestock, to address the issue of leather, hides and skins? Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not want to take much of your time. I just want to say that this is a brilliant Bill that has been brought forward. Congratulations, young man. I also want to assure this House that the Government is fully committed, and that the Bill will be supported. I beg to support."
}