Mutahi Kagwe

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 11 to 20 of 980.

• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: On Sen. Chute’s question, I would like to assure him beyond any doubt whatsoever, that we consider the livestock industry not just as important, but crucial for Kenya’s development. Unless we deal with it and give it the appropriate attention that livestock farming demands across the country, then we will not develop or we will leave large chunks of our country undeveloped. A nation’s strength is measured not by the strongest, but the weakest part of a rope. That is how you measure the success or otherwise of a nation. I want to assure him that we have taken serious ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. First and foremost, the issue related to the packing that the hon. Senator from Mombasa County raised in terms of the sheer cost. I could not agree with him more. This is a matter that we have raised with the National Treasury. I also raised the matter in my presentation to the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) in the National Assembly. If indeed we want to develop the value chain and we want to pack tea and take it out of the country as packed tea and, therefore creating jobs, just like we are trying ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: On the issue of EPZ and the blending of tea, it is indeed true that countries across the world kind of protect what they have first to ensure that the local industry is not affected and people do not come and say that they are blending when as a matter of fact they want us to come and utilize it locally. So, I agree with him that it is necessary to do anything possible. If it means importing and then blending it, creating more jobs in our nation. Whether it is coffee or tea, if it means that we are ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: together and eliminating them. However, the end here justifies the means and we have to do what it takes. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on the issue raised by the hon. Senator regarding the Sugar Act and regulations thereof, the policy of the Government is to consolidate as much as we can because it makes it easier. It is cheaper for the taxpayer when we consolidate many of the shared crops as we can. view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am very conversant with the titles of Sen. Ojienda because he is a friend of mine. However, I concur that indeed he is a professor of Law. Regarding the question that the hon. Senator asked about the regulation, I will repeat that the idea is to consolidate because it makes more sense and is easier to manage. For example, in the Sugar Act, I apologise to the House because I am supposed to have sent the regulations by now. It takes a few public hearings, which take time. Nonetheless, I will ensure that I bring ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: Bw. Spika wa Muda, tumekubaliana kuwa tutakutana ili tusuluhishe jambo hili. Hivi sasa nikiwa hapa, siwezi toa amri. Ni lazima nishauriane na Wabunge na wakulima ili tusuluhishe suala hili. Asante. view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Let me start with the last one, and then build up to the other ones. I would like to confirm two things. First, AFA is not dead. My friend, the Senator, Hon. Kajwang’ knows well that AFA is not dead. AFA is much alive, and it is holding quite a bit of work that it is currently working. On the issue of consolidation or otherwise, this responsibility of disintegrating this is both the responsibility of the National Government, as well as interest groups. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when you look at the Bills that ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: There is the issue of ensuring that the farmer is protected and earns more and these are policy issues in framework. They form different decisions including budget decisions when you consolidate them together. On the issue of the loans, Greenleaf Feather is a SACCO owned by the tea farmers themselves because it is via the Tea Board of Kenya. Greenleaf Feather SACCO is an organization where the tea farmers borrow money at 8 percent. They therefore do not have to go to commercial banks for their inputs and pay as much as 18 percent. However, I agree with the hon. ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. On the issue of AFA, I can confirm that it has a Board which was announced last year and the Director General (DG) is here with me. I therefore can assure you that AFA is very much alive and it is working. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that could be true. However, the fact of the matter is that it is alive and kicking. I can assure you that it is alive and kicking. Soon, you will hear loud things coming from it. I had spoken about the regulations and apologised that they were delayed. ... view
• 12 Mar 2025 in Senate: You did speak about the issue of Homa Bay. I comprehensively addressed the issue because the question that had been raised was what we are doing about coffee and encouraging coffee farming in that area. We are happy and excited with the progress. As you know, Kenya used to be one of the largest coffee-producing countries in the world. We are now down to number seven, even within the region. We are excited about the new areas opening up for coffee growth. However, we must also accept the fact that necessary training will accompany it because of the various quality ... view