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{
    "id": 371806,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/371806/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 310,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In supporting this Motion, we are implementing the 2010 Constitution. The essence of the Constitution is devolving services. Electricity is one of these essential services to our people and if it is devolved, it would allow the governors to seek alternative ways of generating and distribution of electricity. They should look for ways of generating power on their own through hydro-power, wind power and geothermal. This removes the monopoly of the Kenya Power and KenGen. It will bring about efficiency. At the local level, it will not take long for people to be connected to electricity after the application because it will just be done within the county level. In relation to cost reduction, KenGen, which is the company that is allowed to generate electricity, should be discouraged from using diesel generators. This is because the use of these diesel generators not only makes electricity very expensive, but also causes pollution. They should explore more on the geothermal. I am aware that they have only drilled geothermal, but have not been able to tap from the various wells that produce electricity. The Vision 2030 can only be achieved by growing our economy. Our economy can only grow through industrialization. I am aware that small and big industries use electricity. If the cost of power is high, it will have the ripple effect of increasing the cost of commodities and therefore, raising the cost of living. This causes inflation. We should do everything possible to liberalize power and bring down the cost of electricity. The Mover of the Motion has stated that only 15 per cent of our population is covered by power supply. We want to turn it the other way round and have 85 per cent of our people connected to electricity and maybe 15 per cent not connected where it may not be possible to do so and they can use solar or alternative sources of power. On the second point on compensation, I want to support the suggestion that the Kenya Power should offer compensation to those who have lost properties due to power surges and sometimes due to shoddy connectivity. We are all aware that the Kenya Power sub-contracts electricity connection to certain firms and sometimes, these firms work with minimal supervision from the KP. They, therefore, end up doing shoddy job. As a result, property and valuable documents have been lost. Recently, the Kenya Bureau of Statistics offices were gutted down by fire and I am worried whether we have the valuable data that was in those offices. My advice to the Government in relation to this is that we should not only rely on compensation from the KP. It is also important for us as individuals to insure our properties, so that we can get compensation when we lose them in such a manner. As I end, I want to give an incident to emphasize the point of the sub-contracted services. This is an experience that I had over the weekend. There was a power blackout and I called the emergency line. They came after 14 hours, but all the same they came. I"
}