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{
    "id": 393989,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/393989/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 76,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you hon. Deputy Speaker. I thank hon. Murungi for the question. If the Chair heard what I said, this was meant to give Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) three months to do a study, so that we can establish the actual optimal cost of connection. But as a Committee, we were actually very innovative in this matter. We believe that the best way forward is actually to do away with the connection fee all together. This will make it easier to recover it gradually in the bills to allow more Kenyans to have connections. But from the Cabinet Secretary, we were informed that they have sought credit from the World Bank and they are hoping that in the immediate future, we are going to maintain that. But as a Committee, our view is that, ultimately, the connection fee will be done away with all together. This way, we will allow more Kenyans to be connected, and the amount recovered gradually through billing over two or three years. Hon. Deputy Speaker, as you may know, for most people in the rural areas, Kshs34,000 is too much and it is barring people--- We understand that Kenya Power is in the business of making money through their monthly bills. So, it is really their interest. We are looking at it together with them, so that we gradually write off the cost of connection over period through payment of the bills. Thank you."
}