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{
    "id": 196528,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/196528/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 54,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Murungi",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Energy",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 93,
        "legal_name": "Kiraitu Murungi",
        "slug": "kiraitu-murungi"
    },
    "content": " Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, first I would like to assure my colleague that, indeed, under the doctrine of collective responsibility, there have been Ministerial consultations on this matter, in fact, for over the last one year. One of the agreements reached was that each of the service companies should pay its own debts. So, those consultations have been going on and, as I said before, the consultations will continue. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as I said in my Statement, I cannot guarantee that the water service companies will not be disconnected after the 30 days. After consultations with the management of KPLC, I was informed that the extension that we can give is for 30 days. So, the companies have 30 days within which to make arrangements to pay. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, with regard to power surges, it is true that the country is enjoying a rather low quality of power almost everywhere. The reason for this is that the demand and the supply of electricity in the country is almost now at par. We need to generate more electricity to be able to improve on the quality of supply. With regard to western Kenya, once the Sondu Miriu Project is fully commissioned, there should be no problem with the power surges because we are going to have sufficient electricity for that region. Regarding credit facilities, the KPLC already extends a credit facility of 30 days to consumers all over the country. Given the fact that they also have a 45-day credit with KenGen, I do not think it is possible to extend this credit beyond 30 days. The KPLC is now operating in accordance with commercial principles. The old days when it had parastatal mentality are gone. We are trying to get it to financially survive from its own operations. Therefore, the question of writing off debts owed to KPLC would not be a wise thing to do. For those who are saying that 30 days are too short, yes, indeed, this is a short period of time, but we are also aware that if the Ministry of Water and Irrigation includes these rebates as part of its Supplementary Estimates, there could be funding through the Treasury to clear those bills. So, consultations with our colleagues in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation to see whether the proposal by Dr. Khalwale - we know him as a bull fighter - regarding inter-Ministerial consultations on how these debts can be resolved, will continue. I believe that with the new team in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, it will be included in the Supplementary Budget. That is the only way the new water service companies can be bailed out. The total debt so far owed by the various water companies across the country is about Kshs215 million. Thank you, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}