Why controversial Livestock Bill, 2024 has been put on hold - Ichung'wah

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has postponed the First Reading and consideration of the Livestock Bill, 2024, to allow time for public sensitisation on the proposed law's contents.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon during the Plenary session, the UDA lawmaker said he had asked the Ministry of Agriculture's State Department of Livestock Development to engage all the stakeholders.

Ichung'wah pointed out that the authors of the bills (ministries) are fond of forwarding the documents to the house and abandoning them, yet they don't take time to sensitise members of the public on the policies.

"It is essential to recognise that Parliament does not author these bills but often bears the brunt of public criticism," he said.

"I have engaged the principal secretary at the Ministry of Livestock Development and they have clarified a number of things, but we have asked them to engage all the stakeholders so that they get to understand," he added.

The Majority leader noted that, upon completion of the sensitisation process, the house shall await the ministry's guidance.

"Upon completion of the sensitisation process, we shall await your further guidance on this matter on whether the Bill should be withdrawn to allow for further consultations; revised and republished for consideration by Parliament; or processed with subject to the comments of the public and stakeholder being incorporated at the appropriate stage of the consideration of the Bill," Ichung'wah added.

He also asked the Department to forward comments of the public and stakeholders on the Bill to his office.

The proposed legislation seeks to improve efficiency and profitability in the livestock sector.

It is expected to address farmers' economic stability by securing good returns on investment and developing the livestock value chain.

The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the sector, creating a predictable and orderly environment.

The proposed Livestock Bill 2024 suggests the constitution of a new authority mandated to regulate inputs and products of all forms of livestock including cattle, pigs, poultry, bees, sheep, goats, and camels.

The bill restricts unregistered livestock farmers from manufacturing animal feeds to sell and sets a fine of Sh500,000 or a year's imprisonment if this provision is violated.

The authority shall also prescribe the type of inputs that will be used in livestock production and recommends a Sh1 million fine or 2 years of imprisonment if a livestock farmer uses disallowed ingredients.

The Livestock Inputs and Products Regulatory Authority will be managed by a chairperson appointed by the President, as well as the Principal Secretary in charge of Livestock, the Director of Veterinary Services, the Director of Livestock Production, and a County Executive Committee Member appointed by the Council of Governors.

The said authority will discharge most of its functions under a CEO selected by the management, whose leadership term runs for three years.

The bill imposes power on the authority to register commercial livestock keepers, laying down a national database for the sector's value chain, and deciding diminutive details like which feeds are allowed and the quality of livestock products for export.