Ababu Namwamba

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 471 to 480 of 1948.

• 26 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, this question of sugar is really a pain, especially for those of us who come from that region. We represents persons whose livelihoods and basic survival depends on income from either growing sugar-cane or working in the farms. The farms that are subject of this Motion are Nzoia Sugar Company, South Nyanza Sugar Company, Sony Sugar Company, Chemilil Sugar Company, Muhoroni Sugar Company and Miwani Sugar Company. Those are companies that have faced serious challenges. Of course, it is a good idea to start talking about privatisation. view
• 26 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I was making the point that all those farms listed here have been greatly troubled. Of course, the opportunity to go privatisation also provides us with an opportunity to interrogate and get to the core as to exactly what ills the sugar sector or sub-sector. What is worrying is that even farms like Mumias that have in the recent past given the indication that they were healthy have suddenly gone south as it were. This leaves us with the question: Where does the solution to those challenges lie? view
• 26 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: The sugar sub-sector - and we are talking about the sugar-cane growers and the labourers whose livelihoods depend on those sugar companies - is truly troubled. Some of the reasons for the trouble are well known. Indiscriminate importation of cheap sugar from within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region and even as far places like Pakistan is a major factor for the challenges facing this sub-sector. So, we talk of privatisation, and perhaps that could be the direction to go, because we have tried other models and they do not appear to be working. So, perhaps, ... view
• 26 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: Privatisation should also lead us to an arrangement where we upgrade the technology we are applying in that sub-sector. Some of the technology is so outdated that it is impossible for our farms to compete with producers within the same geo-political zone. We are talking about Uganda and Sudan. The cost of production makes it impossible for our sugar to compete within the same geo-political zone whether we are talking about COMESA or the East African Community (EAC). So, yes, let us go privatisation. Let us bring in private sector expertise, but Government protectionism is a very difficult arena in ... view
• 26 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: I hope, as I conclude, that this report and investigation into the mess at Mumias Sugar can be concluded the soonest possible so that this House can have an opportunity to make a contribution to find a lasting solution to what is bedevilling Mumias Sugar. By looking at what is happening at Mumias Sugar, we may just touch the nerve centre of the challenges and the real problems that have kept the sugar sub-sector on its knees. view
• 26 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion. Thank you. view
• 18 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: Hon. Speaker, before I move this Motion. view
• 18 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: Hon. Speaker, I beg to move under Standing Order No.108(2)(a):- view
• 18 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: THAT, for breach of Standing Order No.107, the said Members be suspended from service of the House. They are:- Hon. Moses Kuria, hon. Joseph Kiuna, hon. Muthomi Njuki, hon. Ngunjiri Kimani, hon. Alice Ng’ang’a and hon. Elijah Lagat. They be suspended for a period of four days. view
• 18 Feb 2015 in National Assembly: They are hon. Moses Kuria, hon. Joseph Kiuna, hon. Muthomi Njuki, hon. Ngunjiri Kimani, hon. Alice Ng’ang’ a and hon. Elijah Lagat. I beg to move. view