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{
"id": 1525602,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13582,
"legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
"slug": "wahome-wamatinga"
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"content": "If we have to sustain ourselves in terms of food, we must embrace the current technologies and best practices in farming, but most importantly, we ensure that farmers are provided with the right seeds. The right seed means that it would be able to adapt to the climatic condition, withstand the pests, and diseases that can affect it. Madam Temporary, Speaker, is no longer rocket science. Today, with biotechnology, it has become possible to eliminate threats in the genetic formation of a seed so that some of the diseases will not occur. Unfortunately, this sector has been held captive by some cartels. This remains a major challenge. I challenge every member of this Senate that it is the high time we divorce ourselves from this sectarianism in politics and look at the challenges that this country is facing. Let us ask ourselves a valid and genuine question: Where do we want to see this country in the next 30 years? I am happy I sit in the Committee on Agricultural, Livestock and Fisheries where we are able to fundamentally engage and change some of the approaches and practices that we have so that we can make agriculture, not just agriculture for subsistence, but as a main income earner. It has been mentioned here that sometimes the price of macadamia had collapsed. However, we were able, as the committee, engaging with the relevant authorities, to ensure that the prices were stabilised. From my personal research in some of the major consumers in the Asian countries, for example, in the Indonesian countries, macadamia still remains a very, very good crop if managed properly. However, the biggest challenge that we have in this country is at times we lack a strategic approach in the way we sell our crops. Most importantly, in the way that we manage the bumper harvest that happens to come across the country. Therefore, the farmers end up losing from their drop in prices. Having said that, I commend the petitioner who brought up this petition. I commend the committee that I sit in. This should be a journey that will open doors for many other approaches that we should have. In addition, as we are doing that, we would ask ourselves fundamental questions. The organizations we have that are supposed to be doing research, how well funded are they? How functional are they? How well do they work with other institutions of higher learning? Do they just import technology or do they implement homegrown technology that will suit Kenyans? It is important to underline that the funding that is given to research institutions at times falls too short that they are not able to do any meaningful change. If we have to harvest the products of good research, then we must also be prepared to invest in it properly. As I wind up, let me say that it is very important that we realize that agriculture is not only important to provide us with food security, but it could be one of the answers that we are looking for to ensure that we create meaningful employment. Nevertheless, it should not stop just by growing the crops. It should not stop by just harvesting the crops. It should go on. We must do value addition and we must, therefore, interrogate. Along the value chain, where can we be able to create opportunities for the younger generation, which is attractive enough for them, which is able to earn them The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1525603,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525603/?format=api",
"text_counter": 269,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13582,
"legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
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"content": "enough income, but most importantly, ensure that we produce products that are processed and value added in a way that they become competitive in the foreign market. Madam Speaker, the world is becoming a global village. Therefore, the crops that are produced in Kenya, the same are produced in Peru and Brazil. How do we then make our products more competitive? If you go into a supermarket in Tokyo, you will buy a packet of macadamia. Just by the way, it is packaged; you will have a feeling that this is more valuable. Only for you to read the packaging and see that, that is a product of Kenya, but it was exported, processed and then packaged there. It is the high time now that we started leveraging the technology that is available so that we can ensure that our products get maximum profit and they are able to compete globally. As we do so, it must never be lost to us that the potential that we have as a country does not only lie in the Western countries, but within the African region. Just the other day I was in Angola and I realized the potential we have to sell our dairy product there is enormous. I was also in Ghana. I saw that the potential that we have to sell our Kenyan tea there, is enormous. What we need to do is to divorce ourselves from being dependent on the dollar because I keep on asking myself, why does Kenya need to have dollars to be able to trade with Uganda? Why do we need to have dollars to be able to trade with Tanzania? It is the high time; within the East African region, the SADC and the Great Lakes Region, that we came up with a mechanism that will enable us to trade without overly relying on the so- called dollars. By so doing, we limit our opportunities. We make ourselves very vulnerable to external shocks because the shortage of dollars in the American market will mean that it will affect our economy directly. As I wind up, I challenge us all. It is the high time now we divorced ourselves from the toxic politics that we have been pushing and say that we must integrate this country in a way that we will be able to trade with our neighbours. We must ensure that the products that are produced in this country are not only competitive regionally, but also globally. That is why we must ensure that the younger generation, the Gen Zs of this country start to embrace the idea of agri-preneur which is leveraging the current technology with the trends across the globe. I might not finish what I wanted to contribute because of time. As I talk about advancing agriculture and creating industries and opportunities for our young people, we should also invest in their education. If we do so, they will do research and come with new varieties of crops that will withstand the climatic conditions. It must never be lost to us that the climatic conditions have changed. The pests that we had 20 years ago have changed. They have genetically modified themselves and are now resistant to some of the pesticides that we use. It is high time for us to leverage our technology with the modern technology."
},
{
"id": 1525604,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525604/?format=api",
"text_counter": 270,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " I want you to hold on a little. Hon. Senators, I would like to extend the session in accordance with the relevant Standing Order by 10 minutes after 6.30 p.m. to enable the Mover to reply. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1525605,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525605/?format=api",
"text_counter": 271,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wamatinga",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13582,
"legal_name": "Wahome Wamatinga",
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. This is a golden opportunity that the Senate has. Agriculture is a devolved function. This is time for us to put our foot down and make sure that we bring the counties on board. It is time for us to tell our governors that we have to show what we have done for our counties. That can only be seen in the input that we have made to mainstream the younger generation into agri-preneur. We also have to ensure that our Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are offering courses that are in tandem with what we have. Agri-preneur is what we have as the backbone of our economy. It is the future of this country. I am sure that with the right decision and the right intervention and commitment from the governors, we can make this country food secure. We can create opportunities for our young people and ensure that no Kenyan walks with a bowl on their head to beg for food because our country is starving. I support."
},
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"id": 1525606,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525606/?format=api",
"text_counter": 272,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " The Mover may now reply."
},
{
"id": 1525607,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525607/?format=api",
"text_counter": 273,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wafula",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 348,
"legal_name": "Davis Wafula Nakitare",
"slug": "davis-nakitare"
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"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I want to appreciate the committee Members who participated in writing this report. We have Sen. Abass, Sen. Wamatinga, Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Sen. M. Kajwang’, Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC and Sen. Lemaltian. They were steadfast and they ensured that this work was done properly. I do not want to forget our able secretariat who have walked with us in the entire journey of this Petition. I also want to appreciate the petitioner for standing up for his people and their rights. I also appreciate his for acknowledging that the Senate is a better place to articulate their issues. This is because we deal with facts and information that is justifiable. Today, the petitioner is a happy gentleman in Bomet County because the people of Bomet have a reason to confide in the Senate and their leadership. I also want to appreciate the Senators who have stood up to congratulate, contribute and add flesh and content to this discussion. I want to appreciate Sen. Cherarkey, the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Cheruiyot, Sen Mungatana MGH, Sen. Olekina and Sen. Wakili Sigei who is the host Senator, Sen. Munyi Mundigi, and finally Sen. Wamatinga. Madam Temporary Speaker, when you listen to all the Senators who have spoken here today, they concur that agriculture is devolved function. They agree that the devolution of agriculture was not meant to punish the Kenyan people in the counties. The proprietors of devolution expected that the county government will stand up to be counted. Use the devolved monies to improve the welfare of farmers by pumping resources into agricultural institutes, training and exposing farmers and working in collaboration with the national Government to alleviate what we have seen in this Petition. Madam Temporary Speaker, you have seen what these members have said. The Government and state agents are reluctant in articulating and sorting out issues at the grassroots level leaving people to the mercies of God and nature. We want to assure Kenyans, as a committee, we will ensure that every Arm of Government and county government will be held responsible and accountable to the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
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"id": 1525608,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525608/?format=api",
"text_counter": 274,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Wafula",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 348,
"legal_name": "Davis Wafula Nakitare",
"slug": "davis-nakitare"
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"content": "people. They must offer solutions and not only be part of the participants causing agony and trouble to Kenyans. Members have articulated here, that the collapse of training institutions is a major blow to this country. There is a big clamour for universities, but you cannot have universities, facilities and infrastructure in this government without food. Surplus food is a tool or a means for people to add money into their pockets. As a committee, we will do so. Finally, in terms of the recommendations as I have put here, we will ensure that we pursue them as has been requested by Sen. Wakili Sigei. We will request the implementation of this squarely to be part of the Liaison Committee and we shall do what needs to be done. As a committee that is in charge of wheat, sugar, macadamia, rice, cotton, the nut and crop oil industries, the livestock participants and the fisheries of this country, I assure the people that we represent as that if you have a problem, kindly reach out to us. We will swiftly move in and assist by creating solutions. Madam Temporary Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order No.66(3), I request that we defer putting of the Question to a later date because looking at the numbers in the House, we will not be able to complete the process now. I thank you. May God bless Kenya."
},
{
"id": 1525609,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525609/?format=api",
"text_counter": 275,
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"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Putting of the Question deferred)"
},
{
"id": 1525610,
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"text_counter": 276,
"type": "heading",
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"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "ADJOURMENT"
},
{
"id": 1525611,
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"text_counter": 277,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you. Hon. Senators, it is now 6.33 p.m. and having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of sitting pursuant to Standing Order No.34(2)(a), the Senate stands adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, 6th March 2025 at 2.30 p.m."
}
]
}