The National Assembly has debated a Bill that seeks to streamline safety controls on food and livestock feeds to be allowed into the market.

The Food and Feed Safety Control Coordination Bill No. 21 of 2023, sponsored by the Leader of  Majority Party Hon. Kimani Ichungw'a (Kikuyu) proposes the enactment of an Act of Parliament to provide for the coordination of the public institutions in the control of food and feed safety.

The Bill also seeks to establish the Office of the Food Safety Controller and to provide for the role of County Governments in food and feed safety and for connected purposes.

Members who supported the Bill said it was timely and will enhance the overall safety of what Kenyans consume in addition to halting the spread of lifestyle diseases such as cancer that have lately been blamed on consumption of unhealthy foods.

Hon. Ichungw'a said that through the Bill, county governments will have a prominent role in the food safety chain, in line with the Kenyan Constitution that places key agriculture functions in counties.

"Through this Bill we seek to have a framework for counties to ensure that farmers produce, process and transport food in a safe way to make it safe for human consumption," said Hon. Ichungw'a.

Some of the Members who opposed the Bill as formulated said there may be a need to rework the legislative proposal to separate food and feed safety obligations to different agencies.

Hon. Caroli Omondi (Suba South)  faulted the Bill on account that as framed, it may cause a clash between key state agencies already involved in the food safety chain.

"I would propose that the Mover considers establishing a National Food Safety Authority instead of the Office of the Food Safety Controller," Hon. Omondi said.