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{
    "id": 1357943,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1357943/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 143,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I have just come from Stony Athi Resort, where we are retreating for the national dialogue process. The question of the cost of living is one of the key issues we have been dealing with even at the national dialogue. I want to encourage Kenyans to continue conversing and dialoguing with each other until we are able to look at each other in the eyes and tell each other the truth. That, it is untenable to subsidise fuel and continue shoring up our shilling against other hard currencies. I must commend the current administration in the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). This is because they told us to deal with economic fundamentals as they stand without shoring up our shilling against the dollar or other hard currencies. That, we have to deal with the economic fundamentals and sustainable economic solutions for the benefit of our generation and future generations. In the last two months of the last regime, we risked driving our nation into a pit that we would never have seen the light at the end of it. I am glad, from the measures enumerated by the President and what Kenyans can see, this country is on the right trajectory in terms of recovery of the economy. As I said, over the years, it was one thing to do all the things that would excite the masses. Today, it will be very easy for the President to act populist like those ahead of him did. He can subsidise maize floor, fuel or even declare that we have done away with Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel. We must look at each other in the eye and ask ourselves; ‘today, even if we do not have a single tax on fuel, will its cost continue rising amidst the global rise of oil prices?\" The straight answer is that taxes are loaded on some products we use like fuel, due to the global oil prices rise on account of the war in the Arab world, Middle East, Ukraine or Russia. So, we are unable to change certain fundamentals like wars and global supply chain disruptions that came with the COVID-19 Pandemic and climate change issues. The people in the Western countries like in Europe and America are now on the onset of winter. The demand for fuel to heat their homes is at a very high level and will continue rising. Until and unless we deal with those fundamentals, we can only be lying to each other and the people by pretending to shout from rallies and funerals that we can subsidise fuel. Today, our economy cannot bear the burden of subsidising fuel. I must note this is an administration and regime that is sensitive and alive to the realities of the global challenges that pervade the world. This administration, even with a consistent rise in global oil prices, is using the Fuel Stabilisation Fund and has been able to pre-empt very high spikes and standardised pricing. I want to believe even in the expected review of fuel prices this month, the Fuel Stabilisation Fund will be utilised and that is the right way to do things. Otherwise, we can continue subsidising fuel and accumulating bills to the tune of Ksh60 billion for a period of only seven to eight months and sink our economy and country into a dead hole that we will never get out of. 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."
}