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{
    "id": 1120761,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1120761/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. If you look at the wording of this Motion, the action that is required by the Senate is in two steps. The first one is the focus on the increase of fuel prices which have gone up inordinately high. The second one focuses on the CSs who failed to appear the Senate. I will make my remarks in that order. I think that the first issue has been overstated. As I said yesterday, our work was not to join Kenyans in lamenting the increase. Kenyans know that the prices are inordinately high. The people I represent are suffering. That is the same with people that all of you represent. They are really suffering. For us in Nairobi, it is even worse. Of late, we have a terrible approach to our traders and businesspeople. I do not want to call it overzealous. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is now collecting taxes in Nairobi City County. Some of the women and mama mbogas I talk to are bundled into city council vehicles because of not being able to pay Kshs50. I have said this before. It is as if there is a war with the people. It is a terrible situation. Yesterday, when we were talking about the Disaster Risk Management Bill, I told you about how businesses are being closed because people have not paid for a fire licence of Kshs4,500, yet when you pay for it, all you are given is a document, not even the fire extinguisher. It is as if that certificate will help you prevent a fire. Madam Deputy Speaker, there is a terrible approach towards the collection of levies and taxes to our people. It is as if there is a target that is not being met elsewhere. Historically, this fuel is at the highest level and what Kenyans expect from us is solutions. We must provide solutions and leadership. I believe that the Senate should be a bit creative on how it addresses this issue. We have seen the National Assembly and the directions given yesterday. They have a Committee that is supposed to report within 14 days. Our Committee on Energy should have been working in concert with the Committee of the National Assembly on this matter."
}