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{
    "id": 1378795,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1378795/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 68,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Maanzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13589,
        "legal_name": "Maanzo Daniel Kitonga",
        "slug": "maanzo-daniel-kitonga"
    },
    "content": "The Constitution of Kenya is supreme, unless some of the agreements are done by cartels or people who want to hold the country hostage. This Senate has the power to deal with cartels. We should ask for those agreements to be brought here so that we debate on them. If possible, we should even pass a law dealing with those agreements. The argument that they are cast in stone cannot be sustained. I urge the Government to keenly look at the matter of the cost of electricity. I am sure it can be considered, considering the heavy rains that we had. It should be noted that Uganda also supplies Kenya with power. There has been general disorganisation of the whole power supply chain in this country. It is high time all the state organs and parastatals dealing with power realised that power is important for the development of this country, production of goods, industrialization and movement of goods. We are talking about solar power and having cars and motorbikes which are propelled by electricity and can be recharged. However, when you do a comparative analysis within the region, that is Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya, you will realise that our neighbours have cheaper electricity than us. To make matters worse, even the power supply is not constant. Many times, people are forced to invest in generators if you have a serious installation like this. However, that should never be the case. The power should be constant, consistent and cheap enough to be afforded by the ordinary Kenyans. It has become quite expensive, for those using tokens because of the taxes levied on power. Kenyans are suffering and some do not have power even when there is supply. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we do not have sufficient power supply in the country. We need to have power lines running to every constituency and village in the country. This will be the beginning of industrializing. The country together with providing self-employment for those who do welding, run salons together with many others in areas where power is required. In my opinion, the committee has done very well. However, a lot more needed to be done to make sure that we have cheaper power in the country. To make strong proposals to the Government to deal with those who are regulating and adding the cost of power mainly the taxes without consulting anyone. You just wake up and find the electricity bill has doubled or tripled. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this has gone to the same argument of high cost of living. If power bills are lowered, we shall begin cushioning Kenyans in terms of the cost of living. Therefore, I urge the Senate and the Government to take this matter seriously, consult the relevant authorities and go on to lower the cost of living by lowering the cost of power. I do not agree with this Report totally. We need to go back and consider the whole policy again and make sure that the power cost is lowered for Kenyans. I thank you."
}