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{
    "id": 250429,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/250429/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 200,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Olweny",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 122,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Ayiecho Olweny",
        "slug": "patrick-olweny"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the level of taxation on some of the petroleum products also makes the particular products too expensive for Kenyans. Therefore, the Government should think about this and do something about it. The level of taxation on certain petroleum products should be reduced. I thought that the oil pipeline that was constructed from the Coast all the way to western Kenya was supposed to reduce the cost of petroleum products. I do not think it has done so. The cost of diesel and petrol has not reduced significantly even though the products are transported upcountry mainly by the pipeline. The Kenya Pipeline Company should consider the fact that the pipeline was meant to reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products and, thereby, reducing their prices. If the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and kerosene are reduced, we will be able to conserve our forests and protect our water catchment areas. Due to the high cost of kerosene and LPG, which we use for cooking, most Kenyans have resorted to the use of trees, which are burnt to make charcoal or dried for use as firewood. That is too expensive for the environment. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, some time back, this country used gasohol. It was tried and was very successful. The Agro-Chemical Company Limited in Muhoroni was put up for 866 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 3, 2006 the production of gasohol as well as for production of other forms of alcohol for other uses. Ethanol produced by that factory was blended with petrol and the product was successfully used to run vehicles in this country. Unfortunately, that initiative was stopped. I believe that some oil companies were involved in that sabotage. The use of gasohol would lower the cost of running vehicles and hence reduce the general cost of transport within the country. It would be more beneficial to both the sugar and petroleum industries in the country. In countries like Brazil, where the sugar industry is thriving, gasohol is used all over. In fact, in Brazil, vehicles are manufactured in such a way that they can switch to gasohol or to pure petrol any time. If you want to use pure petrol, you do so straightaway. If you want to use gasohol or a blend of the two products, you can very easily do so. However, in this country, where we have so much alcohol produced by Spectre International and Agro-Chemical Company Limited, the oil companies have sabotaged the use of gasohol, which is a blend of alcohol and petrol, aimed at reducing the cost of running vehicles and reduce the cost of transport in the country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if we use gasohol, thereby reducing the costs of fuel, we will bring down the cost of living for Kenyans. Farm operations will cost less. The general cost of living will go down and everybody will be happy. We will conserve more of our forest cover and protect our water catchment areas. The water level of Lake Victoria would not recede as it is doing lately. With those remarks, I beg to support the Motion."
}