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"speaker_name": "Mr. Muturi",
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"legal_name": "Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have not attacked the character of the Minister, but I have just observed that he is wearing spectacles. That is really not a big issue. It is true that he is wearing spectacles just as Mr. Wetangula is. These are facts that you cannot deny and it is really nothing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to appreciate that as we debate and approve these Supplementary Estimates and this being an election year, we have got to be careful and observe that some requests are being put in areas that are likely to raise some reasonable doubt. For instance, in these Supplementary Estimates, under the Ministry of Gender, Sports and Cultural Services, there is an item titled, \"Hospitality Supplies and Services.\" We are, however, told that they had planned to get Kshs16.2 million, but now they want Kshs58 million in order to give awards to our athletes. I appreciate the fact that we should give awards to our athletes. However, the rider is that, this being an election year, we hope that the money will be given on some criterion that is going to be developed and which is not going to see some elements of favouritism or people trotting into the Rift Valley Province allegedly looking for votes amongst the athletes around there and purporting to give them awards. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we commend the Ministry of Energy, I observed that there is a programme by Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) called Umeme Pamoja . It is a good programme, but it covers people living within a radius of 600 metres only. If we are talking about the Rural Electrification Programme (REP) and we want to connect as many people 866 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 24, 2007 as the Minister indicated here when he was contributing, then there is need and logic in proposing to him and KPLC that this Umeme Pamoja Programme needs to be expanded to cover a radius of between two and three kilometres. This is because in the rural areas a radius of 600 metres is such a small area that you may actually find that it is only Dr. Kibunguchy who owns the entire land covering that radius. Therefore, when you say that there is a programme called Umeme Pamoja where people living within the radius of 600 metres pull together, then within those rural areas, the programme becomes meaningless. We want to appreciate and congratulate the Ministry and, indeed, the Government for spending so much resources in connecting the rural areas. However, in order for it to be of greater benefit to more people in the rural areas, we need to expand the range of coverage from a radius of 600 metres to, say, two-and-a-half to three kilometres so that more and more people can be connected. I believe it will also help the Government and the company because those people who will be connected will, obviously, be required to pay some money to the utility company. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I look at the Supplementary Estimates, I feel that the Minister for Finance should explain to this House why it is that in June, last year, when he presented the Budget Speech, he made no provision within the Item: \"Purchase of Specialised Plant Equipment and Machinery\" for the Cabinet office to the extent that, suddenly, as if in an emergency, he now requires this House to approve a sum of Kshs252 million for the Cabinet Office for the purchase of the same. We have raised these issues before. The Cabinet office existed even before June, 2006. Had there been need for them to purchase anything that is \"specialised\" it ought to have been provided for. We want the Minister to explain to us what it is that he wants to purchase for that office. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}