Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1102488,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1102488/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 57,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tigania West, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mutunga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13495,
        "legal_name": "John Kanyuithia Mutunga",
        "slug": "john-kanyuithia-mutunga"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to add my voice to this issue of fuel price rises. I wish to thank Hon. Mule for bringing it to this House as a Petition and also for your guidance in response to the petitions brought to you by Kenyan citizens. A rise in fuel prices, including kerosene which has actually increased even more than all the others, is punitive to the Kenyans. It is not just costly but it will increase the costs of living across the board. It will increase the cost of transportation and the cost of travelling or commuter cost. It will also increase the cost of land preparation for farmers and all the other implements that are trailed by tractors. It will disable the small businesspeople who are using bodaboda and others. It will be punitive to this country and it is at the wrong time. Everyone is aware that this country, among others, has suffered as a result of COVID-19 and businesses have not been fully opened. The sources of living are limited. Therefore, I would like to spot the direction that you have given that this matter be transferred to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning so that it can be given the correct attention. Even as we look at this particular issue, we should look at alternative means of raising revenue. We should not focus on the easiest way which is just fuel. Even if it is development, in a situation where there is crisis like now, we should not look at how much more we can pressurise the people. We should look at how we can relieve the people by looking at alternatives. I do not think it is really wise for us to go to the direction of increasing the fuel prices but we should look at the other alternatives. We could also look at what can be stayed or staggered and what we can do on long term instead of rushing to increase the prices of fuel at a point when Kenyans are suffering as a result of COVID-19 and others. We even have drought. People are suffering from hunger. People are dying. Therefore, they cannot even move. This is going to create a crisis in this country and it should be opposed in the highest level. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}