GET /api/v0.1/hansard/entries/372190/?format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 372190,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/372190/?format=api",
"text_counter": 293,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I heard hon. Members talking earlier on about how we have passed many Motions in the last three months that we have been in this House. Hon. Gikaria was asking whether this is a talk shop or really we are intending to take action. So, I urge hon. Bowen to move with speed and see if we can suggest amendments therein. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to also say that this situation where the Kenya Power has monopoly has really been very uncomfortable for most Kenyans. We are claiming that we want to be an industrialized nation, but we have 80 per cent of our brothers and sisters in this country going without electricity. It is really a very shameful thing and when you look at the Rural Electricity Authority (REA) – having been hon. Member in the last Parliament and I am here now - part of the reasons why I came back to this House is because of the work that REA did in my constituency. I want to emphasize “REA”, and I do not want to talk about Kenya Power. This is because Kenya Power in many occasions would even be impeding the work that REA. Sometimes, REA finishes their work, but Kenya Power will take forever to come and commission or put power on the project. So, I want to say that if the distribution of power is liberalized and if the market, then REA and Kenya Power, will begin to get pressure they can deliver results. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, recently we have heard about the increase in the cost of installing electricity. Here we are wananchi cannot afford the Kshs35, 000 connection fees! REA has brought the poles up to the schools but schools cannot get electricity because they are being asked to pay Kshs120,000 for three phase connection, so they are all waiting. At least, the ones in my constituency are waiting for us to be given Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) money so that we can give them the money in order for them to be connected. It is a shame and I believe that this increase has been occasioned not because it is a requirement, but because of the high inefficiencies that we have in Kenya Power. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I had been informed from very reliable source that if you look at the actual cost of providing power, it cannot be more than Kshs20. So, really for them to keep moving this figure up until it reaches Kshs120,000, in my view, is completely irresponsible and it does not get us to where we aim to be as an industrialized nation. On the question of compensation, I want to say that it is really unfortunate that so many Kenyans lose so many hard earned items; which they have struggled to get. As a teacher in high school or primary school, or even Jua kali young men out there struggle to buy themselves little radios to give them some entertainment away from the problems of poverty and vulnerability, but what happens? The Kenya Power with their power outages and surges destroys it in a minute. Then that is forgotten. We must liberalize the market and open it so that there is competition and Kenyans enjoy the benefits of an open market. They have a chance to go to the lowest bidder or where they think they are going to get the best service. With those few remarks, I support."
}