H.E. William Ruto, EGH, EBS

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 191 to 200 of 478.

• 15 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to issue a Ministerial Statement on the issues raised by the Member of Parliament for Nyakach, hon. Ochieng, on the current sugar situation in the country. The current sugar situation in the country is not artificial, as has been projected by certain sections of the media. It is a reality that has been brought about by external factors as well as internal factors. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the World sugar production for the year ending September, 2009 crop is established at 154.5 million tonnes, compared to 166.7 million tonnes realized in the previous year. ... view
• 15 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, an issue has been raised about our sugar companies closing around the same time for maintenance. This is a tradition that has existed for a while and we are addressing ourselves to it. We have tried to persuade some of the companies to extend their time so that they do not go into maintenance at the same time, but they told us that the machinery has a life span each year which they must meet. Therefore, it has become a very controversial issue. I admit that we need to do something about the closure of our sugar ... view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I apologise for not being here when the Question was asked the first time. view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, the following is the criteria that was used in terminating employment of 162 employees of the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK) in August this year. (i) Basic professional and academic qualifications of each employee was assessed, (ii) The length of service based on the principle of first in, first out or last in, first out, (iii) Age was a criteria where majority of the employees who were beyond the 45 year age were considered for retrenchment. Those rendering services that were earmarked for outsourcing were also targets of retrenchment because it was considered prudent that there would ... view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, when I took over the Ministry of Agriculture, the PBK was grounding to a halt. It became necessary for me to take remedial measures to ensure that the ship does not capsize with all the employees, assets and the pyrethrum sub-sector in totality. I, therefore, appointed a task force chaired by Mr. Okodhe who came up with the recommendations that I have read out this afternoon. We looked at it as a Ministry and thought it was reasonable because it was an in-depth analysis, complete with a revival plan of pyrethrum sub-sector in our country. It is ... view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I admit that this was a very painful decision, especially even for me, considering that many Kenyans look at the Government and other institutions to provide employment. Hard as it was, it became necessary in order to sustain the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (PBK). It was necessary that we take the decisions we took. On the issues raised by the Member, we are discussing with the Treasury with a view of bringing forward allocations in the budget so that we can re-allocate some money to pay off these employees so that they do not wait till next ... view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, it may look like we did not consider the facts. However, I want to assure the Member that we did. These are people who have been on a payroll for the last three years. They were being paid without doing any work. After sometime, it became difficult even to pay salaries. We had arrears of up to eight months. So we had people on the payroll, who were not doing anything. Arrears accumulated and view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think I have answered that question. I have said that we have a firm date of April next year. However, we are looking at how we can bring forward that date by discussing with the Treasury on whether we can re-allocate some of the money so that we can exit these employees and pay their terminal dues. view
• 1 Sep 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, to all extents possible, the exercise was done in a very balanced manner. Unfortunately, some departments were completely abolished. Therefore, whoever was in that department, like the Department of Laboratory and Logistics--- We decided that it was not necessary to have a research department at the PBK because we can do research in a research institution and just transfer information that is necessary to the Board. So all the people who were working in the Research Department; who were about 30 were retrenched. Mr. Speaker, Sir, some departments were out-sourced like those of planting material and development ... view
• 20 Aug 2009 in National Assembly: On a point of order Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise under Standing Order No.76 to address a matter that involves my name. Yesterday, at the request of this House, we tabled the list of beneficiaries of Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) land that was given out. My Assistant Minister complied with a request from the House. As a Ministry, we believe in doing the right thing when we are asked to do it by this House. The ADC is a State corporation under my Ministry. The list that was tabled in this House contained the name “William Ruto”, who was given ... view