Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1120616,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1120616/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 65,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "Tuesday, 21st September, 2021 to apprise the Committee and the entire Senate on the unprecedented escalation of fuel prices in the country; AND WHEREAS the Standing Committee on Energy invited the two Cabinet Secretaries, pursuant to Article 153 (3) and (4) of the Constitution, to appear before the Committee on Tuesday, 21st September, 2021 at 11.00 am; NOTING that the said Cabinet Secretaries failed to honour the invitation to attend the meeting of the Committee; COGNIZANT of the fact that the sharp increase in fuel prices in the country has had a ripple adverse effect on the economy leading to a rise in the cost of living and the cost of doing business on an already overburdened citizenry grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; FURTHER AWARE that this increase in fuel prices has outraged a majority of Kenyans who bear the brunt of the effects of the increase such as high cost of transportation, high food prices, high cost of electricity among other adverse effects on most sectors of the economy; NOW THEREFORE the Senate: - 1. Expresses its grave concern on the unprecedented increase in fuel and electricity costs and the adverse effects that these have had on the economy and livelihoods of the people of Kenya; and 2. Expresses its dissatisfaction with the conduct of the two Cabinet Secretaries, namely- Hon. John K. Munyes, Cabinet Secretary for Petroleum and Mining and Hon. Charles Keter, Cabinet Secretary for Energy in failing to appear before the Senate to address these urgent issues thereby abdicating their responsibilities as set out in Article 153 (3) and (4) of the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in moving this Motion, first of all, let me commend the Committee on Energy and its Chairman because it has grappled with this matter over time. Indeed, looking at the business of that Committee, and I had occasion to look at their deliberations during previous meetings before the escalation, it is a matter that has been appearing in the proceedings of the Committee for over a period of time. It appears that they knew this matter was going to come to its present status, where it has been escalated and compounded with factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. On several occasions, the Chairman has sought to bring to the attention of the House legislation on these matters generally as enacted by previous parliaments. When this issue arose beyond the capacities of the committee, questions were raised on the Floor of this House. I think it was by both the distinguished Senators for Nandi and the nominated Senator from Kisumu County. They desired that statements be made on this very important issue. The Chairman responded, but it was the feeling of the House that this matter required the responsible Cabinet Secretaries to appear before the House in a Committee of the Whole, and not just in the Committee on Energy, to give an explanation on this very important matter that affects the lives of all our people. These are people in business"
}