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"id": 1378804,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
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"legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
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"content": "One of the things that we have to do is to find a way to deal with the cost which is being passed on to the consumers. When a power line is not working - and this why I differed with my Committee a little bit - it is not only the issue of KETRACO to be able to fix their transmission line, but also KPC and REA. We have to find a way where we sit down with the Ministry and discuss on how to bring all these parties on board. This will ensure that if there is a line that has been built by REA, before that electricity is transferred to KPC for them now to start charging, there is a mechanism of understanding at what point was that line functional or not functional. Currently, if you call REA, they will tell you we handed this over. However, if you demand to be given information on when they handed over to KPLC, it becomes what in Kiswahili we call kizungumkuti. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I believe we have an opportunity and I want to encourage my colleagues that even if you have not read the Report on all the work that the Committee on Energy did, just focus solely on the recommendations. If you do so, you will be able to understand because these are things that we deal with on a daily basis. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is absolutely no reason as to why Kilgoris and Emurua Dikirr would not have electricity for 24 hours and no one worries about it. There is no reason as to why, when you come to Narok North, there is no electricity for three or four days and nobody cares about it. We have many schools and healthcare facilities in this country that have no power. The only way that we will be able to get power to them is if we will all work together to reduce the cost of electricity so that, KPC can then get some money to extend electricity to other parts of the country which are dark. In conclusion, I want to reiterate, that it now behooves all of us, not only the Committee on Energy, but all the 47 elected Senators, to look at this Report and understand where it affects their own counties. From there, let us now begin lobbying. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in most cases, you will find that the Members of the National Assembly are the ones who lobby. They are the ones who have got a budget and go to REA or the Ministry. I think it is now a national duty and it behooves all of us, as Senators, also to be mindful of our own entire county. You will find that in a county like Narok, for instance, we have six constituencies. In those six constituencies, Narok East has the highest connectivity. Why? This is because the Member of Parliament for Narok East, hon. Lemanken Aramat, is a Member of the Committee on Energy in the National Assembly. He is aware and he is able to move around and lobby for electricity to be connected. However, if you go to Emurua Dikirr, the Member of Parliament for that constituency has only managed to connect the constituency with 20 per cent of electricity. Consequently, you will find like about 67 schools have got no power, including the health facilities. I, therefore, think as Senators, we now need to go beyond the call of duty. We need to ask ourselves, what will Kenya look like when everywhere is connected with electricity? The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}