{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=147903","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=147901","results":[{"id":1497212,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497212/?format=json","text_counter":207,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"[The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) took the Chair]"},{"id":1497213,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497213/?format=json","text_counter":208,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":"I want to mention some specific clauses in the Bill which I think will assist the Committee. Clause 3 of the Bill has a few issues. It states: “(1) The object of this Act is to provide for a legal framework that promotes a sustainable and competitive co-operatives sector for socio-economic development in a devolved system of governance.” Socio-economic development in this country will happen only if we harness the things around the factors of production. One key factor of production is land, which is the building block for the foundation we need to develop this economy. If we have sustainable co- operatives, it means we will develop our people. For an economy to grow, we need to make as many people as possible useful, so that they can contribute to the economic well-being of our country. Clause 3(2)(b) specifies one of the objects of the Act shall include to provide for- “(b) uniform norms and standards in the registration, regulation and supervision of co-operatives.” There should be no selective treatment when it comes to co-operatives. Some should not be sacred cows. They should all be uniformly treated. Clause 3(2)(d) talks about areas of concurrent jurisdiction in promotion, registration, and regulation. The provision of co-operatives has been highlighted. Therefore, it is important to anchor this Act in existing legislation so that cross-referencing is enabled; and thus, making it better than the law we had before. Clause 4 talks about co-operative principles. Violation of those principles led to the collapse of co-operatives such as the principle of voluntary and open membership. When members form a co-operative and they disagree, there is no homogeneity of membership or glue to bond them together. That is a problem. On the principle of democratic member control, democracy lacks in many co- operatives. We have some levels of dictatorship and this makes it impossible for the co- operatives to run properly. Look at the principle of economic participation by the members. Some decisions that have been made in co-operatives have led to misuse of resources, thus leading to suffering. This needs to be looked into carefully so that democracy persists and economic participation of the members is ordered in a way that will help co-operatives to grow. These co-operative principles are key in terms of helping co-operatives to move forward. Looking at the establishment…"},{"id":1497214,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497214/?format=json","text_counter":209,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. Silvanus Osoro consulted loudly)"},{"id":1497215,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497215/?format=json","text_counter":210,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Deputy Speaker, protect me from the Majority Whip. He is shouting and I do not know what he is saying. If he has any contribution, he should give it in an orderly manner so that we can listen to him. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to pick out two key positions: The position of the Commissioner of Co-operatives at the national level and the position of the Director of Co- operatives at the county level. Those two positions are key and if the functions of those positions are not properly ordered, then we cannot have progressive co-operatives in this country. Those are two positions that need to be vetted by this House so that people can be put to task to explain to Kenyans the kind of ordering and how they will structure their business in terms of developing co-operatives in this country."},{"id":1497216,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497216/?format=json","text_counter":211,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":"The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."},{"id":1497217,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497217/?format=json","text_counter":212,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":"When you look at clause 14 (2)(b), the Director of Co-operatives at the county level is given a function of carrying out inspections into the affairs of co-operatives in the county. Let me first discuss this particular issue as this is one of the issues that could have led to the collapse of co-operatives. When somebody is given the mandate or the power to inspect co-operatives, and that he or she goes further to make decisions, are they decisions that lead to the development of those co-operatives? Such a person can reverse such a decision by the leadership of co-operatives. It is one of the problems that has led to the collapse of co- operatives. That is because if members of a co-operative have developed their own strategy, their own way of doing business and they make decisions, once their decision is affected or changed by an individual who does not even belong to the co-operative, then it makes the co- operative membership uncomfortable and, therefore, it is possible that those co-operatives may not move on as probably expected."},{"id":1497218,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497218/?format=json","text_counter":213,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":"I would like to also mention Clause 19. We have the structure of different co-operatives — the primary, secondary, co-operative federations and the apex co-operatives. The fact that we have that tiered arrangement of co-operatives, the ordering should not be associated with power to manage the issues of the co-operatives. In other words, secondary co-operatives should not load over primary co-operatives. The apex co-operatives should not load over the others which are below it. Therefore, it is important for us to take caution on that particular issue."},{"id":1497219,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497219/?format=json","text_counter":214,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Deputy Speaker, Clause 25(e) speaks to the fact that one of the roles of the apex co-operatives is to provide a mechanism and framework for alternative dispute resolution for the co-operatives. I would like to suggest, by way of amendment, and probably the Committee has looked at this particular issue, dispute resolution should not be in an institution. We should set an independent body to deal with disputes within the co-operatives so that we do not bring in mischief that probably would lead to problems."},{"id":1497220,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497220/?format=json","text_counter":215,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Just give him one minute to finish his sentence."},{"id":1497221,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497221/?format=json","text_counter":216,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tigania West, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) John K. Mutunga","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Deputy Speaker, the very last one is Clause 61. Clause 61 is long and it basically talks about the delegation and representation system. When it comes to sending delegates, we should have the co-operative itself, which is a primary co-operative, being given that opportunity. We should specify how delegates are going to be picked and the power of the delegates as picked because when delegates represent an institution in a meeting that is making decisions, they should have the power of the institution and that particular provision does not seem to say exactly what I have said."}]}