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{
    "id": 301586,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/301586/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 278,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Midiwo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 184,
        "legal_name": "Washington Jakoyo Midiwo",
        "slug": "jakoyo-midiwo"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one other thing I want to plead with the Chair is to make an amendment, as we amend this Act, regarding the positioning of electricity transformers. The problem is that when contractors go for design, they tend to put these transformers in the bush. Now, as I speak to you, in the last two or so months alone, I think four or five transformers have been stolen from my constituency. What is interesting is that those transformers are not being stolen by scrap metal people. They are being stolen by contractors or the briefcase contractors who are being hired by KPC. After investigations, I know that they are selling the same transformers back to KPC. So, it is a vicious circle. The issue of transformers must be criminalized to the extent that if you are caught stealing one, you may even face the death penalty because electricity saves lives like the example which has been enumerated by Mrs. Odhiambo-Mabona about the massacre in Homa Bay two days ago. If the place had lights, those people will still be living today. This is happening all over the country. So, please, I want to plead with you to go the Mututho way. A few months ago when I was moving the Traffic Amendment Bill, people said that the penalties are punitive. Penalties must be punitive. Why pass a law that seems to be creating a holiday for people? We should pass a law that if anybody thinks of breaking it, it is a deterrent. That way, we shall be moving in the right direction as a country. I want to plead with you to carry an amendment to force KPC, by design, to put electricity transformers in schools, in Church compounds, in people’s compounds and they will be safe. Let us not entice theft; let us, please, put them in a way that will deter opportunities for theft."
}