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{
    "id": 1224888,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1224888/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 272,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mbeere South, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Eng.) Nebart Muriuki",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this Motion. First, I commend our Government for the efforts it has put in the last few years to ensure that as many citizens as possible are connected to power. In our language we say, ‘people do not count the good but only count the bad.’ I recognise the good that has been done in this country. Very few people had power connections. This has now changed, and I trust that it will continue changing with the efforts that have been put in through the Rural Electrification Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC). My only concern is that, as a Government, we are not business-minded. As we talk of connecting power in every school, you will find a transformer installed in a certain school and serving the school alone. The community around that school is left without power. Providing a transformer for one customer is expensive. If one is to pay the cost, they will not afford. The same case applies to dispensaries. A transformer is installed for a dispensary and not much effort is put to maximise its use. At least in towns, the installations have been maximised. My plea to REREC and the Government is to ensure that every installation that is put in place is used optimally. Let us go to the basics. When we talk of power, what do we mean? For those who studied physics, there is the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that: “Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed”. You can only convert it from one form to another. Power or electrical energy is converted from hydro-energy, geothermal, solar, wind, fuel energy and coal. What we are addressing is the cost of converting this free God-given energy to electrical energy. The IPPs are selling us energy at a very high cost. It is the responsibility of the entrepreneur to convert this energy to electrical energy at a cheap cost. It is not the responsibility of the citizens of this country to shoulder a more expensive way of converting energy to electrical energy. I support liberalisation, but it would not be the solution to this matter. When we talk about liberalisation, we are talking of market forces. Let the supply and demand dictate the prices. Energy, just like water, is a basic human right. You cannot eat or drink when there is no water or energy. If energy is a basic human right, naturally provided, already in existence right from creation, then it is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that every single citizen of this Country gets access to it in an affordable manner. As we look at liberalised markets, there must be a clear regulation of energy prices which will tame the IPPs. If the Government gives a price cap for the citizens, then the IPPs will look for ways to ensure they are more efficient in the conversion of energy. If the Government does not do this, then a lot of things in this Country will suffer. Climate change is brought about by the depletion of the forests. What will happen to the common mwananchi when they cannot afford power? They will go back to the old way of living. They will cut trees, use firewood and burn charcoal for survival. It negates the efforts of the Government to say that the people burned many trees and yet, on the other hand, it discourages the mwananchi from using the source of energy that would save the forests. Two, if conversion of energy to electrical energy is expensive and unaffordable to the common mwananchi, the Government should come in and subsidise energy production costs. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}