James Kembi Gitura

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 7731 to 7740 of 7781.

• 3 Aug 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, many statements concerning the sum of Kshs641 million were made from many directions. But at no time do I recall a clear statement that the Government was going to pay that money. What the Government promised is to borrow money from other sources and pay the money that Coffee Board of Kenya owes farmers. I do not recall a situation where the Government, in its own right, agreed to liquidate the debt. view
• 3 Aug 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the coffee rules that were gazetted on 21st July, this year, only forbid, and I believe rightly so, the farm-gate sale of coffee. That is sale of coffee by small-scale farmers to people who are going to export it as their own product. If that happens, coffee co-operative societies are going to be killed by unscrupulous middlemen who will buy and sell the coffee to marketing agents, who will then sell the coffee directly out of the country. So, we are taking that issue very seriously. We are not going to allow farm-gate sales of coffee at ... view
• 3 Aug 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Kshs5.8 billion was there when the Government took over power. In the meantime, the farmers have continued to make payments to the Co- operative Bank of Kenya and other creditors. Therefore, that figure has not been static. It has been reducing. The Kshs3.2 billion that the Government, through the Coffee Development Fund, has paid the Co-operative Bank of Kenya includes Kshs5.8 billion in SKIP I and SKIP II that has come down substantially. view
• 19 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry will process the refund of Kshs14,530 to Mr. Joseph M. Kirugi, as soon as he produces the original miscellaneous receipts with which he paid the money. Thank you. view
• 19 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry will pay back the principal sum but will not pay any more money. view
• 19 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am saying that the hon. Member knows that it is not possible to pay ex-gratia for any such expenses. In any event, he cannot establish or prove that he has incurred those expenses. However, I am giving him my assurance that if he has lost the receipt and he can swear an affidavit, we shall refund the money. If he can produce the receipt, I am giving him my word of honour that the money shall be refunded in total. 2164 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 19, 2006 view
• 6 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. Increasing food productivity and food security is a core function of the Ministry of Agriculture and most of its activities relate to this function. The Ministry is taking the following measures to assist poor farmers increase food production. 1. It purchased seeds worth Kshs300 million in the financial year 2005/2006 and distributed to poor farmers in several districts. 2. A programme is in place to multiply orphan crop seeds to be distributed in ASAL regions. 3. Revival of Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) loaning to farmers at a reduced interest rate of 10 ... view
• 6 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the sixth step, is the revival of agricultural mechanization system and, finally, the introduction of 1894 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 6, 2006 water harvesting. view
• 6 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I stated, in the last financial year, the Ministry of Agriculture distributed seeds worth Kshs300 million in 50 districts in all the provinces in the country, except Nairobi. I have a list to show how these seeds were distributed. The Ministry has also intensified the deployment of agricultural extension staff and rationalised the same. Only early this year, the Ministry hired 300 new extension officers who we appreciate are not sufficient. The Ministry is seeking to continue to recruit more of such officers so that we reach as many farmers as possible in the rural ... view
• 6 Jul 2006 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is not fire-fighting in the least. The reason that the seeds were given in the last financial year, was not with a view to making Kenyans dependent, but because there was drought. Most of these are seeds that could do well in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). The deployment of Agricultural Extension Officers, as I have stated; the development of orphaned crop, that is, the crop that has not been commercialised in the past, the opening up and revitalization of the farmers training colleges and, particularly the extension services, are meant to make agriculture a ... view