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{
    "id": 1472230,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1472230/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 352,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to also contribute to the Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which has been moved by the Senator for Nairobi City County, Sen. Edwin Sifuna. This is very important. This Bill is long overdue. I worked in the energy sector before I joined politics. I used to work for the then Electricity Regulatory Board (ERB), which transformed to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and now it is called the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and this problem has been there. We have always had the issue of the cost of power in this country. One of the factors that contribute to the high cost of power in this country is very expensive, secretive and satanic energy purchase agreements between the Kenyan Government and some IPPs. This Bill will help us unlock the problem that has existed in this country for many years. It will ensure that the so-called IPPs who engage in power purchase agreements are known. Sen. Sifuna is seeking to resolve the problem of disclosure. We must know who these companies are, the faces behind them, their interests and contents of the agreements. It is not right for a Government institution to enter into agreements with individuals or private institutions without the knowledge of the people of Kenya. This problem highlights the main problem we have in this country. The main problem is lack of disclosure of material facts in agreements of this nature. Maybe we need to amend this to ensure that all such agreements are subjected to parliamentary approval. I want to encourage Sen. Sifuna to look at the amendments and improve them further to require that these agreements, since they largely affect our economy, they must be looked at by Parliament so that the public interest is protected. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only.A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services,Senate."
}