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{
    "id": 174556,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/174556/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 79,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Mr. Affey knows very well that I did not, really, mean to demean his position. He is my very good friend. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to join my colleagues in supporting this very important Motion of adjournment. Indeed, we all deserve to congratulate ourselves for the work we have done over the years. There is no doubt, we started this year, at a very difficult time. God has seen us through. We must not lose sight of the fact that it is through God's grace that we managed to get where we are. We must thank Him for that. I want to talk about climate change. Global warming is here with us. Climate change is tremendous, and has very serious negative effects in our country. As I speak, rains have failed in Eastern Province, North Eastern Province, Coast Province and in some parts of Rift Valley Province during the last two years. All the parts of Eastern Province, including Ukambani, have not received rain during the last two years. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the consequence of this rainfall failure is that people are suffering, December 17, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4191 because there is neither water nor food. The prices of food commodities have gone high. So, food commodities are not reachable by the average persons in those areas. Therefore, as we go on this recess, I want the Government to realise that it will be a very difficult time. We are all Members of Parliament going to face a very serious situation of people who are starving. Therefore, I call upon the Government to do everything possible to ensure that food is easily available, and that the prices of food commodities are stabilised. I want to commend the Minister for Agriculture for introducing the five-kilogramme and 10-kilogramme packets of maize flour, which he launched two weeks ago. However, it looks like this maize flour was only meant for Nairobi. As I speak, the rural areas, where most of the poor people live, has not received this maize flour. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if the Minister meant to have this maize flour distributed throughout the country, he should make it easily available throughout the country. Otherwise, he should tell Kenyans the truth; that, this maize flour was not meant for people in the rural areas, but for Nairobi. I say so, because majority of the people out there, are keenly waiting for this maize flour. It is high time that the Government gave this assurance. Also, we all know that the international price of crude oil has now fallen to as low as US$45 per barrel. Previously, the fuel pump prices had gone to Kshs140 per litre, but all that the petroleum companies have done is to reduce their fuel pump prices to about Kshs75 per litre. This is not reasonable. We must demand that petroleum companies reduce their pump prices. I believe that the pump price should now be as low as Kshs50 per litre, if not less. It is, therefore, upon the Government to insist to these companies that they must reduce the prices of fuel. Once the prices of fuel is reduced, the prices of other commodities will come down as well. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think we have an alternative, but to introduce measures that will make oil companies reduce their pump prices. I propose that when this House re-convenes early next year, and if the Government will not have taken adequate measures to control the prices of fuel, this House takes a measure that will ensure that fuel prices become affordable, so that we can have the prices of other commodities reduced. During the Jamhuri Day celebrations, His Excellency the President talked about coal exploration in Kitui and Mwingi districts. Most coal in Mwingi District is in my constituency. Sadly, every time the Government talks about exploration. Our people are ready and we know that coal deposits are available. We know that this country requires alternative sources of energy and it is available. I, therefore, would like to call upon the Government to move from the exploration of coal in Mwingi and Kitui districts and get to the actual exploitation of this commodity because with it, the country is going to benefit from alternative sources of energy. That will, at the same time, save this country enormous foreign exchange reserves. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}