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{
    "id": 384132,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/384132/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 139,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, with that amendment, I want to say that I come from West Pokot County where about 65 per cent is not covered by any communication network. The 35 per cent that is covered is of a peculiar nature because another half of that 35 per cent is international network communication where the MTN of Uganda is available. The local people are suffering because of the rates that are charged when one is calling. West Pokot is a bit peculiarly placed because of the huge hills that surround us. We have been having historical problems between the Pokot, the Turkana people and the Karamojong of Uganda. Therefore, the security of West Pokot is so expensive because by the time the locals report to the police about what has happened, it takes days because one has to walk to the police station. There is no communication. That is why this Motion is coming at a time when I was also planning to bring the same. We want to ask the Government to avail to her citizens an opportunity to communicate. Even if you want to report a crime as simple as when a goat has been stolen, and you know a goat is life elsewhere - you cannot survive without it - you cannot do it because of lack of communication. We have also lost lives as a result of lack of communication. Many other related activities have gone down, for example, if someone wants to communicate with us leaders, he or she has to climb the tallest tree. At one time, it was reported in the media that someone fell down and died from a tree while trying to communicate. So, this Motion is coming at a time when we want our country to be covered. This is not for free because when this thing has been installed, the residents can access, use and pay. Some of my colleagues were saying that it would be expensive to the Exchequer; which one is more expensive? Spending a lot of money every year to go and protect these people when something happens, for example, when Ethiopians invade or installing this equipment? Lives are lost in the process and it takes a long time for them to be reported. I am saying this is not a lot compared to what we are going to put in place. In Nairobi if there was no communication, many petty crimes would not be reported. Therefore, telephone communication plays a very crucial role. How the Government is going to negotiate with the private sector depends on the direction given by the Government. Normally if the Government has decided that they want to stem insecurity in a certain area and this is one of the items that is going to be utilized and the private sector has to come in because they will enjoy the benefits of this installation, I do not see if there is a problem. Madam Temporary Speaker, personally, I do not think there is a problem here. I am supporting this Motion and say further that we want to know why we allow an international company to interfere with our communication. Our people are suffering all the way from Kitale to Lokichoggio. They spent a lot of money whenever they call. What is the measure required so that MTN or any other international connectivity within our borders do not interfere with the economy of our people when they are calling. The moment you call, it jumps to international rate. The local people who do not have enough funds will end up suffering. With this, I beg to move and ask my colleague, Sen. Sang, to second this amendment. I beg to move. 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."
}