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{
"id": 209118,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/209118/?format=api",
"text_counter": 172,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mrs. Tett",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Housing",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, energy is a very important aspect for a developing country. We must look at new ways of meeting our energy resources. Energy sources like biogas need to be developed a lot more. We do not even take recognition of these matters and yet we do not have enough energy. Of course, it is not a viable substitute for oil, but if exploited, it can promote new trends in technology and development. Another way is that if we feed cows with a lot of cassava, their dung is very good in biogas. Many countries have used this method. In Western Province, and Mombasa, there is a lot of cassava and when they feed them to the cows, the dung becomes good for production of biogas. We do not look at these matters and yet, we can save a lot of energy by using simple methods like that one. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, another source is the wind. Wind is another alternative of power. An average wind-driven generator can serve about ten homes in the wind- prone areas. How much do we need to put up the wind mills? It will cost us nothing and it will generate a lot of power in those areas. Rather than keep on saying that there is no electricity in the rural areas, why not use the wind power in all those areas while we wait for the Ministry to see the best way to bring power to the rural areas? We could also tap solar energy. Solar energy can be very popular in the rural areas. We should invest more in solar cookers. The other day I saw on television solar cookers being used to cook. We only need to put those solar cookers where there is sunshine. We are blessed in this country that we do have a lot of sunshine. So, we should buy more solar cookers instead of crying that there is no electricity. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, fetching firewood is one of the challenges facing our women and children. Many hours are wasted while searching for firewood. It depletes our forest cover very rapidly and also contributes to the excess carbon monoxide which damages our environment. With solar energy, all these problems will be solved. Our women will be able to engage in more productive activities. We must fund research in this freely-available energy source which, at the moment, I do not think that we are doing very well. Another issue is that we are depending so much on hydro-electric power. Hydro-electric power, as you know, depends on rain. So, when we do not have rain, there is no power. We need to get out of this box and focus on new methods including the geothermal source of energy which does not depend on rain. Olkaria area has successfully generated power using this method for many years. I think we need to put more funds into this method. That would help many Kenyans. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in South America, there are companies that are actually using agricultural waste. In Kenya, we have the coffee and maize waste that is simply wasted. The waste can be used for the boilers. They are doing it in South Africa and South America. That waste is actually used to drive the boilers. All these are initiatives that we can look at and just put a little bit more funding and we shall be able to adopt many of these resources which are just at our door-step. That way, the farmers will benefit because we shall be buying their waste. We should look at all those possibilities and borrow the technology from other countries in order to benefit our people. We need to support all these initiatives. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in many countries of the world, there are a lot of people using bicycles. If we have cycle tracks in Kenya today--- Imagine people from Kangemi, August 14, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3149 Korogocho and so on, if we had constructed those tracks all over, we would save a lot of energy and money. People would be able to save what they are, at the moment, paying for transport. Transport is very expensive in Kenya today. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we put up these trucks for bicycles, life will be easier for our people. It has been done in India, China and even in European countries. I have seen millions of bicycles all over these countries. It is also very healthy because it involves a lot of exercising. So, people will save on medical bills because they will be exercising a lot. We will also have less accidents. People will cycle themselves to work. We can also create an industry of bicycles. If the Ministry can consider all these ideas from this august House, surely, we can do a lot. Even during the winter season, people cycle to work. I do not see why we cannot put up bicycle tracks. I think we have a long way to go. If this Ministry can look at all those sources of energy, then we will develop. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, lastly, if the Ministry can waive the connection fee, it will be very good. It is a lot of money for the poor mwananchi . The connection fee is just too high and that is why people are going without electricity. Despite the fact that electricity is within people's reach, they cannot tap it because they have to pay a lot of money in form of connection fees. This money will be recovered when one is connected. I hope and pray that this Ministry will look at helping the common mwananchi by waiving the connection fee. After all, when one's house is connected with electricity he or she will enjoy it for many years to come. Let us be mindful of our people. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}