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{
    "id": 1525416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1525416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 82,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Ogola",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "must pay their electricity bills. We cannot tell other Kenyans to pay their bills, while governments that draw budgets and have allocation for the same not to pay their bills. If the bills have been accumulated for long, we may suggest that through the intergovernmental forums, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy could constitute a sitting with the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning along with the Council of Governors (COG) and find an amicable way of settling the bills. The counties have disbursements every month. They could settle it in a way the bills for KPLC are ring-fenced and could be paid in bits if not once. Hon. Speaker, we know that county governments have allocations. Why then would they not be encouraged to pay their bills? The issue of streetlights is just a small percentage of these bills. We all know that the streetlights are also subsidised bills. I support the Statement because county governments are not only owing these bills on streetlights, they are not paying hospital bills, the buildings they use and a number of services. All Kenyans pay bills. It is an excuse that we could encourage county governments not to pay bills. Secondly, I want to comment on the Statement by Sen. Catherine Mumma on the proposal by the Kenya Secondary Schools Head Association (KESSHA) to increase school fees in public secondary schools. we know Kenyans are struggling. I would not support the fact that school fees should be increased, especially for day secondary schools. We are encouraging education for all, which includes students and pupils that do not come from advantaged families. Therefore, if fees is increased, we might see a dropout rate that is going up. In some of the schools, we have often seen stories where students even fall out of school because of inability to pay Kshs5,000. If the school fees is increased, it would affect learning of students. The Statement has given two reasons why KESSHA is proposing that school fees should be increased. One of them is the delay in disbursement and the non-review of capitation to schools. I suggest that the two reasons need to be looked into. If there is a delay in disbursement, we need to ensure that the National Treasury disburses the funds to the schools at the right time and not to punish our people who are struggling. I support these Statements. There should be no increase in the current school fees that is being paid in the public schools. I thank you."
}