{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=147905","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=147903","results":[{"id":1497232,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497232/?format=json","text_counter":227,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Likoni, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Mishi Mboko","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I stand to support this Bill by Hon. Osoro. It talks about the co-operative movement in our country and, more so, in particular, the SACCOs. Those co-operatives are very instrumental in terms of pooling capital and resources. They also facilitate job creation, economic growth and social development. I am very much impressed by this Bill because it talks about a four-tier co-operative structure. The first structure is the primary co-operative, where members can engage directly. The second one is the secondary co-operative, where there is mutual support among the members. There is also the co-operative federation, which talks about the network of co- operatives. We have apex co-operatives, which is the highest level that takes all the co- operatives together. Having those four tiers means that their governance and accountability are going to be very clear. That is why we are going to avoid so many wrangles and ensure that members benefit as members of the co-operatives. Clause 11(1) of the Bill states thus: “There is established in each county, the office of the county director of co-operatives.” This means there will be a new breath of life for our local economies, and the administrative functions will go closer to the members at the grassroots level. When you talk about devolution, it has to go in so many aspects, and that is why having that director at the grassroots level or rather at the county level, means even more bureaucracies, which are at the national level, are going to be avoided. Clause 62(5)(a) states thus: “In constituting its board of directors, a co-operative shall ensure that not more than two-thirds of the directors are of the same gender.” We have been talking every day that this law has to be implemented. In any all-inclusive organization, that means we will have women, men, vulnerable groups, marginalised groups and those who may have a low income being included. I think we will be assisting all Kenyans and that is why I want to support this. Hon. Deputy Speaker, there have been many frauds. Therefore, we need to put some mechanism to ensure Kenyans are being protected. In this Bill, Clauses 41, 43 and 44 talk about the protection of co-operative members from fraudulent schemes. We have been having so many schemes in this country where people come, entice and tell us so many good things like"},{"id":1497233,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497233/?format=json","text_counter":228,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Likoni, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Mishi Mboko","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":1497234,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497234/?format=json","text_counter":229,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Likoni, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Mishi Mboko","speaker":null,"content":"how we are going to be rich at a go. With this Bill, we are going to have some protection and that is why I support it. My last comment will be on Clause 73(1), which stipulates that if an employee has paid the employer the deduction for the Sacco and the employer does not pay that deduction to the relevant Sacco, then the employer is going to be liable to pay that deduction and if there is any penalty or any interest, the employer ought to pay it. I have been told that there is no time as we have the Committee of the whole House coming up. I had a lot to say because co-operative movements are the ones that have made individual businesses thrive in terms of growth in our economy. I support. Thank you."},{"id":1497235,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497235/?format=json","text_counter":230,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Thank you. Lastly, let us have the Hon. Member for Githunguri, Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba, and then we will close that debate."},{"id":1497236,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497236/?format=json","text_counter":231,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Githunguri, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I am honoured, indeed, to participate and be on record that I have supported this Bill because this is what we have been waiting for. I am a member of many co-operatives in my society, community and constituency because, obviously, you know that Githunguri is one of the biggest producers of milk in the Republic of Kenya. We are the people who manage the largest milk co-operative society in Kenya and largely in East Africa. If there is anything that has made most of the producer activities in agriculture retrogress, it is the mismanagement of producer co-operatives and the death of the sector in that matter. Many co-operatives owned many buildings in Nairobi after having made profits in the past. When I was growing up, farmers from Murang’a owned the whole of Kirinyaga Road. Farmers from Kiambu were lending other countries money. I remember the Kiambu Municipality used to lend the Republic of Tanzania money that came from producer co- operatives but, something happened along the way. People who retired from the civil service and those who were fired for misconduct in Government went down to those producer co- operatives and bribed their way into the management of co-operative societies. They laundered and stole money that was meant to grow the co-operative societies and put the same co- operative societies to death. We had very large co-operative societies that owned Imenti House and many other houses on River Road near Keekorok Road. Today, those co-operative societies are in debt. They are supposed to sell off their assets to cover the running costs. I am very excited that this Bill is bringing back the vibrant spirit of co-operatives and the successes that we read about in our history. I am particularly very happy with Part X of the Bill, which will restrict and limit the borrowing power of the people who will be entrusted with running the producer co-operatives. In the past, there were people who borrowed money on behalf of producer co-operatives, listed the assets of such co-operatives and ran away with the loot, only to leave our farmers and producers desperate and hopeless. I am excited that the producer co-operatives will be limited in terms of the loans and investments that they can handle. The power to borrow and invest money must be accounted for by the co-operative’s commissioners. I am happy that Part XI of the Bill has laid out a very good way of how co-operative societies will be amalgamated. In the past, a co-operative could decide to dissolve and establish another co-operative without the blessings of the majority of the owners and shareholders. I am happy that the spirit of co-operatives will finally come back. Our farmers need to benefit. It is time for them to go back to their farms and produce as much as they can because there is a new law that will protect their sweat. I support the Bill and I cannot wait to see it pass. Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker."},{"id":1497237,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497237/?format=json","text_counter":232,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Githunguri, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba","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":1497238,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497238/?format=json","text_counter":233,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Thank you, Hon. Wamuchomba. Let us go to the next Order. Sorry, I forgot. Where is the Mover? You may proceed."},{"id":1497239,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497239/?format=json","text_counter":234,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. Sabina Chege spoke off the record)"},{"id":1497240,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497240/?format=json","text_counter":235,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"South Mugirango, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Silvanus Osoro","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Deputy Speaker…"},{"id":1497241,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1497241/?format=json","text_counter":236,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Would you like to donate some of your minutes?"}]}