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{
    "id": 139403,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/139403/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 437,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "July 30, 2009 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2116 Mr. Ngugi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this chance to join the others in supporting this Vote for the Ministry of Energy. As you know, energy is one of the development infrastructure items. Without energy, we cannot start industries. I have seen this in my own area. When we provided electricity to small markets, many small industries began to come up. It is for this reason that we would ask that the Minister for Finance, even in future Budgets, considers to increase the allocation for this Ministry. We also know that the cost of electricity is cheaper than paraffin. When we provide electricity to rural areas, we are not only saving on the cost but also enabling children to read more and do well in their studies. For this reason, we support this Ministry. However, I want to draw the attention of this Ministry that although it is their policy to provide electricity to schools, health centres and market places, in some constituencies like mine, we are lagging far behind. If we go at the rate of Rural Electrification Programme, this might take the next five to ten years. Therefore, equity is really necessary here so that we can catch up with the other constituencies that have developed. I want to commend the Kenya Power and Lighting Company for the innovation of teaming up with banks. This has enabled farmers and other citizens to borrow loans from the banks for connection of electricity and start repaying them as they sell their milk, potatoes and goats. We have heard about exploration of oil in this country since I was in school. I do not know what is difficult in exploring oil. For years now, we are told that oil is being explored. Is it the technology that is a problem or the areas or is it that we do not put in enough money or what is it? We would like to know this because sooner or later, Uganda will be way ahead of us. This Ministry has an authority which is known as the Electricity Regularity Authority. I am glad that the Ministry is encouraging energy saving bulbs to be used. The regulatory authority should come up with rules that machines should also be economical in the use of electricity. It is not just about being able to pay for energy, but it is also a question of denying others that commodity. It is time that we, as a country, came up with measures to use whatever resources we have very efficiently."
}