The National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the Mung Beans Bill, 2022, a proposal that has been at the centre of public debate due to its controversial clauses. The bill, which was introduced to regulate the large-scale production, processing, and marketing of mung beans in Kenya, faced strong opposition from a majority of MPs during its Second Reading.
Highlights:
- MPs reject the Mung Beans Bill, 2022, at Second Reading.
- The bill now heads to the mediation stage for further scrutiny.
- Farmers and stakeholders had criticised the bill over its regulatory proposals.
Parliament Rejects the Bill
In a statement released following the vote, Parliament announced that the bill had been rejected by a majority of lawmakers, signalling significant resistance to the proposed regulations on mung bean production and trade. “The National Assembly, by a majority, has rejected the Mung Beans Bill, 2022, at the Second Reading stage. The bill, which seeks to regulate the production, processing, and marketing of mung beans in Kenya, will now proceed to mediation,” Parliament noted.
The mediation process, as outlined in Article 113 of the Kenyan Constitution, allows for the appointment of a committee to address differences between the National Assembly and the Senate. The committee will closely examine the contentious clauses and propose amendments aimed at satisfying both legislative houses.
Controversial Provisions
The Mung Beans Bill, 2022, sponsored by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, was introduced with the intention of creating a structured regulatory framework for the mung bean sector. Among its provisions were requirements for entities engaged in large-scale marketing or trading of mung beans to obtain licenses from county governments. Additionally, small- and medium-sized farmers would need to register with their respective County Executive Committees (CECs), which would maintain a register of growers and assess crop production capacity.
Failure to comply with these provisions could result in hefty fines of up to Ksh1 million, sparking criticism from farmers and industry stakeholders who viewed the bill as overly burdensome. Many argued that the regulations would stifle the growth of the mushroom bean sector, especially for small-scale farmers.
Senator Wambua defends the bill.
Despite the strong opposition, Senator Wambua defended the bill, clarifying that it was not designed to burden farmers with unnecessary licensing requirements. Instead, he argued that the bill would enhance the competitiveness of Kenya’s mung bean industry on the global stage by establishing a clear and structured regulatory environment.
“This data is crucial for strategising how to make the Kenyan mung bean industry competitive on an international scale,” Wambua explained, pointing to the need for improved organisation within the sector to meet international standards.
Mediation and Next Steps
The bill, which was first introduced in the Senate in February 2023, will now move to the mediation stage. A joint committee from both houses will be tasked with refining the proposed legislation to address the concerns raised by MPs and stakeholders. The outcome of this process will determine whether the Mung Beans Bill, 2022, can move forward or if it will face further opposition in its current form.
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