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{
"id": 187837,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/187837/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Letimalo",
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"speaker": {
"id": 68,
"legal_name": "Raphael Lakalei Letimalo",
"slug": "raphael-letimalo"
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Vote. First, I want to start by commending the Minister for Energy for the elaborate plans he has for the supply of energy, particularly through the Rural Electrification Programme (REP), which covers the entire country, and also for the specific arrangements he has made for ASAL areas. Having said that, I would like to register my disappointment. Looking at the allocation of Kshs19,143,000 for construction and civil works in Samburu, I do not know whether that covers the larger Samburu District, because we have two newly created districts, namely, Samburu East and Samburu North. If that allocation is for the three districts, then it is too little for any work to be done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, considering that a lot has been said by the previous speakers, I will make very few comments. It is my humble request to the Minister to consider Samburu East District as a priority in the provision of energy, because that is one of the districts which does not have electricity at all. One of the reasons that make me advance that appeal is that Samburu East District is a rural district whose poverty levels are extremely high. Its inhabitants are purely pastoralists, who depend entirely on livestock. Therefore, their income is absolutely low. If the Government's intention is to create self-employment with a view to stopping the rural folk from flocking to urban centres in search of employment, with the provision of electricity, it 2174 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES July 29, 2008 will be possible for people to start small-scale enterprises. When there is electricity in the rural areas you can talk of Jua Kali garages for welding and barber shops from which the people can make their little earnings. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Samburu East District is one that has recorded very poor performance in national examinations. This is due to many factors. With the provision of electricity to our schools, it will enable the students to learn for longer hours, and the teachers will be able to give them extra coaching. Samburu East District is proud of having a big hospital in the name of Wamba Mission Hospital, which serves the three Samburu districts, that is, Samburu North, Samburu Central and Samburu East, parts of Isiolo District, Marsabit District and even parts of Laikipia District. But if you look at the monthly bill, because they use the diesel-driven generators, they spend over Kshs1 million per month. The majority of the patients are poor people, who cannot pay the cost of treatment. Considering that this is a mission hospital and the major purpose is to help the rural folk, you find that in many cases the hospital bills are not paid until one is able to raise funds. I am sure that if the Government, through the Ministry of Energy, is able to provide electricity, then the cost of power in that hospital will reduce. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to note that Samburu East District depends entirely on livestock for its economy. To improve livestock production, electricity will contribute a lot because people will be able to build a modern abattoir and even have the safe keeping of vaccines. I am sure that such a move will improve livestock production in the area. Finally, I want to applaud the Minister for thinking of other sources of energy and considering that Samburu East District falls under the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which are characterised by hot weather and also windy spells. I am sure that wind and the solar energy will be quite appropriate for the production of energy in those areas. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}