HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 210095,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/210095/?format=api",
"text_counter": 171,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwakwere",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Transport",
"speaker": {
"id": 189,
"legal_name": "Chirau Ali Mwakwere",
"slug": "chirau-mwakwere"
},
"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to join my colleagues in congratulating the Ministry of Energy for the excellent work that it is doing in supplying electricity to every corner of this country. The Rural Electrification Programme (REP) is, indeed, a direct means of ensuring that we develop our economy at every point in the country, not just in the cities. We have, for example, many young men and women who will soon graduate from youth polytechnics. Most of them will not be employed in cities and towns. However, with sufficient supply of electricity, right where they come from, they would be in a position to do some manufacturing, repairs and maintenance of gadgets in their own localities and be able to earn a living. This would contribute tremendously to the growth of the country and generate employment. We have, indeed, farmers who grow perishable products which go to waste. However, with the supply of power in their villages, they would be able to preserve and sell their products in their own areas, in other towns in the country and even in foreign countries. That is, indeed, the right way forward. That is why we congratulate the Ministry of Energy for, vehemently, trying to supply electricity to every corner of the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, my colleagues have talked a lot about sources of energy. Indeed, I would like to add my voice to the importance of being self-sufficient in energy production, as a country. Hydro-electricity is serving us very well. We have very few rivers which are properly harnessed and maximised in terms of the output that can be generated from them. However, I would like to caution that many countries have problems with hydro-electricity because of their failure to maintain the turbines and the generating systems. I am saying this because technology also changes very fast. If we do not make projections and prepare ourselves to maintain effectively and update our equipment and machines, then we could find ourselves in a predicament where we do not generate as much as we could with the few rivers we have. Indeed, the same can be said about the geothermal energy. We are lucky, as a country, that we can generate a lot of geothermal energy. Maybe this also contributes to the reduction of earth tremors by releasing the pressure that is under the earth is crust. However, we should even generate more energy because the potential is very high. If we maximise the production of electricity through geothermal technology, that would contribute to our being self-sufficient in terms of energy production. 3088 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES August 8, 2007 Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, solar energy can be generated in every part of this country with the abundance of sunshine. It is important that our scientists carry out research and develop modalities of generating energy from a guaranteed source of supply. This is being done in a country that does not receive as much sunshine as Kenya; Germany, which generates more electricity from the sun than we do. This is a challenge to the scientists, particularly in our country and to the Ministry of Energy, to make full use of the abundance sunshine in the country. This way, we would generate more energy and, therefore, contribute to having more electricity in the main grid. It is important to note that Kenya is in a position to contribute to generate more fuel through the growth of plants such as geotropa and even sugar cane. There are many other plants which scientists have discovered can generate a lot of electricity. It is important that we develop bio-diesel and bio-fuel, in general, from the sources that are available in the country. I do not think that we are maximising the generation of such power with the available natural resources in the form of plants. This should be given top priority. With the vast arid and semi arid lands (ASAL), such crops can also do well. The geotropa plant does very well in ASAL areas as well as in areas with abundant rainfall. We do not have a shortage of that, as a country. It is important that we make it a national project to encourage communities all over the country to grow the plant. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also necessary here to note that wood fuel, as important as it is, and being the main source of fuel in our communities, should not be taken for granted. There are areas of this country which are turning into deserts. People do not like to do so deliberately, but that is their source of energy. You only have to travel to my district and the places like Chenze Ranch and Kurancha Ranch and, you will notice that these areas are becoming bare. I am sure if they are not checked, they could turn into a desert anytime in the next few years. Lunga Lunga Ranch has not been spared either. There is a lot of charcoal burning and this is being done at a level which can create problems to the country in the long run. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also necessary for us to make further exploration in areas that have been indicated to be possible sources of fuel in the country. We have proven deposits of coal in areas like Kitui District and Shimba in Kwale District and many other places. We know that the deposits do exist, but nothing much has been done to exploit the same. We need to move with full speed to ensure that we maximise or make use of our natural resources to the full. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to add my voice closer home on the question of rural electrification programme. We are grateful that it is improving the lives of people and making life easy and more profitable in the activities that our people carry out. However, I would like to emphasise here that whereas it is being done efficiently, the people who are given contracts to supply electricity are actually dragging their feet in certain areas. Take the example of Matuga Constituency. I am not blaming the Ministry. Contractors and companies have been identified that would supply poles and do the surveys and so on and so forth. However, so far, we have only four kilometres of electricity supplied in Matuga Constituency. Here, my problem lies with the contractors that have been identified. The questions people of Viungwani are asking are: Where is the electricity from Kwale? Where is the electricity from Marere to Msangatamu, Dzerezani, Burani, Chizebe, Mkongani and on to Mtsaviani, Ketiribe, Mangawani, Chiboyoni, Lukoe, Shimba Hills and the whole constituency? The surveys have been done. Some holes have been dug here and there. However, people are breaking their legs because some of those holes are within villages, but there are no poles supplied and, therefore, no electricity. Instead, people are getting hurt. It has been taken negatively as just a show of possibility of getting electricity, but it is not there. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry confirms that everything has been done and, yes, they have done everything possible, but those people who have won tenders to supply electricity have to be supervised more closely and be made to do their job as expected of them. Once that is August 8, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3089 done, I am sure we, as a country, shall all benefit tremendously in ensuring that our communities become self-sufficient with small industries in the areas where they come from. The areas that I have mentioned by name are places which supply food to the Coast Province. In fact, they are the major suppliers of food to the Coast Province. That is the Shimba Hills zone. The farmers there could make greater use of electricity if supplied by ensuring that they preserve and even process some of the crops that they grow, for example oranges, to provide supplies to the hotels that are all over the Coast Province. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Energy has done an excellent job. I congratulate them for the plans that they have in hand and also request them to do even more to get other sources of energy. With those few words, I beg to support."
}