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{
    "id": 189199,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/189199/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Murungi",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Energy",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 93,
        "legal_name": "Kiraitu Murungi",
        "slug": "kiraitu-murungi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The fifth issue raised by Mr. Namwamba is: What became of the Kshs1 billion allocated to the upgrade programme by Treasury in 2007/2008 Fiscal Year? Out of the Kshs1 billion budgeted during the 2007/2008 Financial Year, only Kshs500 million was remitted to Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited as part of the Government of Kenya equity contribution to the refinery upgrade. The balance of Kshs500 million was not remitted due to budgetary constraints, arising from the post-election violence that was experienced earlier this year. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the sixth issue is whether the Government has paid Standard Chartered PLC any public funds for their consultancy services that have been largely ignored in this process; if so, how much has been paid, and whether the utility on this money to the Kenyan taxpayer can be demonstrated. I would like to respond as follows: The Government has not paid any money to Standard Chartered Bank Plc. The bank was expected to be paid by new shareholders, which it would have brought on board. Since the Standard Chartered Bank Plc did not bring on board any shareholders, and because the private companies chose Wood Mackenzie as their transaction advisor, instead of the Standard Chartered Bank, there is no payment made to Standard Chartered Bank Plc. Consequently, there is no effect to the Kenyan taxpayer. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the next issue is: What is the guarantee that the Government will conduct this upgrade project above board? The implementation of the upgrade project, which was approved by the Cabinet will be managed by the company's Board of Directors and the management, using the support of experienced consultants and professionals. The contractors for the upgrade project will be selected in a transparent and competitive manner. Both the Treasury and the Ministry of Energy are represented on the Board of Directors of the KPRL. We will ensure that the upgrade project will be implemented in a competitive and transparent manner. The other issues are: Who is protecting the interest of the Kenyan taxpayer, who is subsidising the operations of the KPRL to the tune of Kshs2.6 million per year? I want to confirm that it is our duty as the Government to protect the fundamental interests of the Kenyan taxpayer. It is for this reason that the Government is committed to the refinery upgrade project in order to eliminate current subsidies to the refinery through quantitative protection and tax remissions. As stated above, the Government is represented on the Board of the Kenya Petroleum Refineries and the whole purpose is to protect the interests of the Kenyan taxpayer."
}