H.E. William Ruto, EGH, EBS

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 181 to 190 of 478.

• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the post-election violence of 2007/2008 which disrupted farming activities in various parts of the country especially in the Rift Valley Province and the prolonged drought situation have seriously affected the loan payments to the AFC. The rate of delinquency has increased from an average of 30 per cent to an average of 40 per cent. In recognition of the difficult times experienced by the loanees, the corporation has come up with various measures aimed at alleviating the current loan repayment portfolio. The measures devised are not only to assist farmers to repay their loans but also ... view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: However, as I said earlier, the four years of adverse weather conditions that have affected farmers negatively, the Government is in the process of auditing and classifying the various loans to consider which ones are not recoverable so that we can start the process of the Government taking over these loans through the provisions of this House, with a view to writing them off from farmers. view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as hon. Members are aware, once the corporation concludes the auditing of those loans, I will table the same in the Cabinet and then a Sessional Paper will be prepared for this House to come and consider the write- off of these loans and the refinancing of those loans through the Exchequer, so that we can view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Indeed I want to confirm that the Government did make a pledge that the issue of non-performing loans, especially with respect to livestock farmers and many other farmers who were affected by four years of continuous drought, the post-election violence and other factors way beyond the reach and control of farmers, that we were going to consider, as a Government, taking over some of the loans. But, as I said here earlier, each loan will be assessed on its own merit so that those farmers who are able to pay should actually pay. There ... view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I said earlier, we are going to carry out an audit of the loans and since we have a branch network that helps to assess the capacity of every farmer to pay or not to pay, once that exercise is over - and I want to assure this House that we have already given instructions for that exercise to commence – we are going to take the necessary steps through the Cabinet and through this House so that we can actually write off loans for farmers who are not in a position to pay, especially ... view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to confirm that, indeed, hon. Nkaisserry wrote to me and I wrote back to him concerning the Government’s position and commitment to writing off loans for farmers who are not able to pay, while we encourage all other farmers who are in a position to pay to do so, so that we can have money for onward lending to other deserving cases. view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am not aware that AFC is facing any court action. However, I want to agree with the hon. Member that in the past, AFC has faced very serious management and governance challenges. As a result, this House will appreciate that, last week, we advertised the two most senior positions of Chief Executive and the Director, in charge of loans. The two officers will be recruited competitively as part of the wider scheme of ensuring that the governance and management challenges that have faced AFC become a thing of the past. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, ... view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I appreciate the concern of hon. Members here about the loans advanced by the AFC. We are taking a comprehensive approach. We are looking at the loans that were given to pastoralists and ranchers. We are looking at it broadly because the organization is charged with the responsibility of lending to all categories of farmers be they livestock farmers, crop farmers and so on. That is why we have seasonal credit and a particular line for livestock. When I say that we are assessing, auditing and classifying all these loans, we are not leaving ... view
• 2 Dec 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is true that I did not respond to that issue. Indeed, that issue is being addressed under the Ministry of Livestock Development. The same way we are doing with seeds and fertilizer under the Ministry of Agriculture, we are going to provide money under the Ministry of Livestock Development for purposes of restocking. I think the hon. Member will be well advised to seek that clarification to the extent of restocking from the Ministry of Livestock Development. However, I know that there is a programme towards that end. view