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{
    "id": 384033,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/384033/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 40,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion that is directed to the Department of Information, Communication and Technology:- THAT, aware that mobile telephone communication plays a major role in the social and economic development of any nation; acknowledging the positive role mobile telephone providers have played in providing communication and other related benefits to our country; noting with concern, however, that despite these efforts, mobile telephone penetration in Kenya still remains at less than 50 per cent which is a major constraint to development particularly in the rural areas; the Senate urges the National Government to provide a policy framework of partnership with private telephone network providers, to provide mobile telephone services to hitherto neglected parts of the country, and further urges all County Governments to provide budgets to supplement mobile telephone providers to develop mobile telephone networks in areas deemed to be not economically viable with a view to ensuring that 100 per cent mobile telephone penetration is attained in Kenya by the year 2017. Mr. Speaker, Sir, first, I wish to state that in this Motion I have acknowledged the positive role that has been played by the presence of mobile telephone communication in the Republic. I want to remind my colleagues that about 15 years ago, a mobile phone was a luxury. There were days when only a selected few, mainly politically-correct individuals, were allowed to access mobile phone services. When they did so, they paid very heavily. But as we progressed, thanks to liberal government policies and the entry of more mobile telephone services providers, competition brought in a lot of facilities and fixed stations were brought to many places. I also want to acknowledge that Kenya has advanced in mobile telephone communication. It is one of the leaders in this area particularly when it comes to money transfer. These are some of the benefits that mobile telephone services have provided to this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, having said that, I have gone round some counties and noted that in a lot of them, it is very difficult to communicate. It is not unusual to find people boarding a matatu to go and make a telephone call. This may seem to be a fairy tale particularly to those people who live in cities. But I have witnessed this in my county of Kitui and through a documentary in one of the television stations where I saw people climb hills to go and make telephone calls. I have even been told that people climb trees to make telephone calls. Yesterday, I talked to one hon. Senator who told me that he sometimes climbs on top of his Land Rover to make a call. So, this is not something that is not happening. We have to understand that mobile telephone technology is very important. The revolution that we got in terms of development in this country is as a result of the gadget called the mobile phone. People are able to communicate and talk to their families all over the country. Instead of people coming all the way from the rural areas to come and The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}