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{
    "id": 193478,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/193478/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 60,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kimunya",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Finance",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "This wholesale market will be developed on the basis of Public-Private-Partnerships and is expected to inform development of such markets in other major towns in the country. These initiatives are expected to improve measurably the living conditions of Nairobians. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on measures to expand and diversify the source of energy, as the economy grows, the demand for energy also grows. Our long-term strategy is to focus on secure, least-cost and clean energy development, regional interconnections, diversification to renewable sources and locking in efficiency gains in the distribution system. The recent upsurge in the international oil prices now calls for the need to diversify into alternative sources of energy if we are to remain competitive and achieve our growth targets. Partly to deal with the emerging challenges of high energy demands in our country, we will step up reforms to improve efficiency, reliability and quality of our electricity supply. The electricity generation and transmission networks will further be developed. This is in addition to measures to stabilise oil prices through investments in our National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) capacity, as well as national oil reserves, modalities of which, are under consideration. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we are yet to exploit the full energy supply potential that exists within the 1142 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 12, 2008 floor of our Rift Valley and in this regard, and consistent with our clean energy strategy, I have allocated an extra Kshs4 billion for the expansion of geothermal energy output to diversify our source of energy supply. We intend to use this allocation of Kshs4 billion to leverage even more funding from our multilateral development partners and work on that is progressing. Further, we have initiated processes to tap into renewable energy sources. To this end, this Budget allocates a further Kshs300 million for solar electricity generators to 74 public institutions and Kshs200 million towards wind power generation. Addressing the energy challenges on a sustainable basis calls for a joint approach involving all stakeholders and Kenyans at large. I, therefore, would like to encourage Kenyans and individual institutions to diversify their sources of energy supplies to include biomass, wind and solar power. Mr. Speaker, Sir, conscious of the need to promote rural development to stem rural urban migration, we have progressively implemented a comprehensive rural electrification programme in the last four years. Going forward, we are committed to intensifying the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) countrywide by making fully operational the Rural Electrification Authority. I have accordingly allocated Kshs6.8 billion towards rural electrification, which includes the installation of mini-grids and grid extension covering trading centres, schools and health centres."
}