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"id": 210053,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/210053/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Murungi",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Energy",
"speaker": {
"id": 93,
"legal_name": "Kiraitu Murungi",
"slug": "kiraitu-murungi"
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the area of electricity supply, demand is currently about 1,050 megawatts relative to effective installed capacity of 1,155 megawatts. That current demand-supply balance leaves very little room for maintenance of big hydropower units with related capacity of, at least, 72 megawatts. In addition, under dry weather conditions, that effective capacity falls substantially below our power demands, depending on the intensity of the drought. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to address this weak supply-demand balance, my Ministry has put in place appropriate measures to increase generation capacity in tandem with the rising demand for electricity. That demand is projected to grow at a rate of 7.9 per cent per annum between this year and the year 2020. In this respect, therefore, arrangements are in place for the installation of new power plants with a combined capacity of 315 megawatts within the next two years. The first one is Sondu Miriu 60-megawatts Hydro Power Project, which is one of the projects under construction. It is scheduled for commissioning in November this year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on electricity distribution, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) has continued to enhance its efforts to connect more people to electricity. In the fiscal year 2006/2007, the company connected a record 122,080 new customers across the country. That is the highest connectivity level ever achieved by the KPLC since its inception. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in light of the importance of rural electrification in Kenya, my Ministry has continued to enhance its funding. In the last 30 years, between 1973 and 2003, the former KANU Government spent a total of Kshs6.1 billion on rural electrification. In just the last four August 8, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3057 fiscal years since 2003, this Government has financed rural electrification schemes worth Kshs9.93 billion. That is a reflection of the Government's commitment to accelerate electricity connectivity with a view to reaching an access rate of 20 per cent by 2010 and, eventually, 40 per cent by 2020. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the fiscal year 2006/2007, a total of 444 rural electrification schemes worth Kshs2,177,500,000 were completed. A further 900 schemes worth Kshs7,256,900,000 are now at various stages of implementation, and we intend to complete all those projects by December this year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), we intend to enhance consumption of LPG in Kenya through the expansion of supply and distribution infrastructure, with a view to substantially reducing consumer prices and deforestation, including boosting economic activities which depend on LPG as process energy."
}