Kenyans and agriculture experts have expressed concern over several proposed bills currently before the National Assembly and the Senate.
They argue public participation is crucial to ensure the views of all stakeholders are considered.
Among the controversial bills are the Livestock Bill, 2024; the Price Control (Essential Goods) Amendment Bill, 2024 and the Mung Bean Bill, 2022.
Some farmers have expressed concerns that the bills might be a way to impose additional taxes.
This could potentially result in double taxation since they are already heavily taxed on farm inputs.
Specifically, the Livestock Bill and the Mung Bean Bill propose the registration of farmers, a measure that has faced resistance from many small-scale farmers.
Last month, the National Assembly withdrew the Livestock Bill 2024, “to enable the State Department of Livestock conduct comprehensive public participation on the Bill.”
Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah told the House that there is need to involve all stakeholders in the legislative process.
He wrote to the Livestock Principal Secretary to engage the public before reintroducing the Bill in the House.
According to the MP, the withdrawn Bill aims to advance the livestock sector by regulating inputs and products, promoting research and capacity building and establishing livestock and training agencies.
Ichung’wah acknowledged public concerns about the Bill and affirmed, “It is, therefore, crucial that the public understands the implications of this legislation and has an opportunity to provide input.”
Livestock PS Jonathan Mueke is tasked with consulting stakeholders including livestock farmers, industry players and civil society organisations, to gather feedback on the proposed legislation.
The ministry will then submit a report to the National Assembly detailing the outcomes of this public consultation.
Ichung’wah’s letter to the PS stated, “Upon completion of the sensitisation process, we shall await your further guidance on whether the Bill should be withdrawn for more consultations, revised and republished for Parliamentary consideration, or proceed with public and stakeholder comments incorporated.”
The other one is the Mung Bean Bill, which was introduced by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, and has also faced scrutiny.
Critics question the necessity of requiring registration for mung bean farming in a country grappling with food insecurity and high poverty.
Senator Wambua defended the Bill saying it aims to regulate and promote the mung bean industry in Kenya.
He said there is misleading information circulated in the press and on social media about the Mung Beans Bill, 2022.
The senator said the Bill requires small and medium-sized mung bean farmers to register with the relevant county executive. This a common practice for crops like tea and coffee.
“This registration, as outlined in Clause 8 (2) of the Bill, helps the government maintain a register of mung bean growers. It also records the location, size and variety of the crop, and assess crop capacity within counties and the country,” he said.
He said licensing is only required for entities involved in marketing, processing or large-scale trading of mung beans.
The Mung Beans Bill, 2022, published on December 30, 2022, and read for the first time in the Senate on February 15, 2023, was passed by the Senate and referred to the National Assembly on February 21, 2024.
The Price Control (Essential Goods) Amendment Bill 2024 has also drawn criticism, with stakeholders warning that it might cause public panic.
Critics argue that price control measures are ineffective in a free market and should be guided by supply and demand dynamics.
Timothy Njagi, a senior researcher from Tegemeo Institute, said, “Price control can only work if there is sufficient stock with the Strategic Food Reserve. For staple foods, using SFR stock to stabilise prices requires significant volumes.”
The Bill proposes price controls on essential goods such as maize, unga, wheat flour, sugar and rice. It aims to have the Agriculture CS fix prices to stabilise the cost of living and prevent sudden price fluctuations that could reduce purchasing power and consumer welfare.
Other bills before the National Assembly include the Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing Bill, 2024.
This Bill proposes the licensing and registration of all agriculture professionals to regulate the standards and practices of the profession.
Additionally, it outlines the establishment, powers and functions of the Agricultural Professionals Registration and Licensing Board.
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