Uhuru Kenyatta

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 1151 to 1160 of 1613.

• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I disagree with the point that what we have done is actually to export jobs. I have repeated - and I want to do it again - that Kenya produced, to be precise, 337,000 tonnes in 2008 against the consumption in Kenya alone of more than 950,000 tonnes. For the region, we are only producing in terms of wheat, 20 per cent of our demands. I agree that through the Ministry of Agriculture, we need to do everything possible to see how we can expand wheat production. Indeed, I believe they have their own programme and we, ... view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Question was addressing itself more to wheat as opposed to rice. I mentioned in my response that the reason for the 35 per cent is because of a bilateral agreement between Kenya and Pakistan. It is a trade off for rice and tea. Like I said, in other countries, they are producing adequate supply and that is why they have the higher tariff rate. We still have a shortfall in our country as it stands currently and like I said, we need to honour our bilateral agreement with Pakistan because it has its direct effect on ... view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, within the funds that are available, we are trying to do everything that we can through the NCPB to support not just our wheat farmers, but our maize farmers and all the other farmers in this country. view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think the objective of the Government is not just to protect millers. We also have to protect consumers. I have said that we are not producing adequate supply. Indeed, I agree with the hon. Member and I think, as a Government, we have continued to increase the allocation to the agricultural sector in order to support our farmers. I mentioned in my response that we need to address the structural and competitive issues surrounding agriculture in this country. As a Government, that has been our priority and it will continue to be our priority. view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am not aware that it is only good for Githeri, view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: and Irio . I am sure that it is also good quality and it is able to be milled adequately. We have not yet received such complaints. So, we have no intention of lowering that duty. view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are using the channels that are, indeed, available through the community headquarters. We did raise this particular issue at the post-budget meeting and we intend to continue addressing ourselves to our counterparts in the four other member countries. But as I said, this is always an issue of trade off. At the end of the day, if Kenya alone was to push, for example, and say that we shall maintain our duty rate at 35 per cent or even applies for that stay, the subsequent consequence of that is that other member countries can then turn ... view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, whenever we are engaged in consultations with our partner States we always consult the relevant line Ministry. In this regard, we did consult the Ministry of Agriculture and, indeed, we have a written response from them giving us the basis on which they believe we can negotiate. So, they were fully consulted. view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the solution does not necessarily lie in complete subsidy. Those are issues that we would need to address ourselves with the Ministry of Agriculture. But ultimately, the solution lies in improving the productivity and dealing with structural problems that have made our farmers uncompetitive. That is a long term solution but, indeed, in consultation with the relevant line Ministry, we can look at other options as he has mentioned. view
• 14 Jul 2010 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is a very good question. But I believe it is a question addressed to the wrong Minister. view