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"id": 418334,
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"content": "In terms of the energy sector, the key is basically to open up to private investors. Locally, we have talked about issuing of bonds so that we can develop capital to come up with infrastructure especially in the energy sector. We have adequate energy resources, geothermal, coal, gas and wind. All these are available and they need to be developed pretty fast, so that we can achieve Vision 2030. Energy and transportation will play a key role in the development of this country. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the other thing that has been discussed in this report is the need for the Port of Mombasa to be declared a free port. This issue has been discussed for more than two decades. It is incumbent upon the Committee on Roads and Transportation to bring a Motion or Bill so that we fast track making the Port of Mombasa a free port. This issue has been discussed on very many occasions and various groups have visited Dubai and other ports around the world. However, nothing seems to be happening. But the most important thing is, if we really want to accelerate development in the energy and transport sectors, we must open up and invite the private players to come and invest. As we have been told, if you go to Kuala Lumpur, from the airport there are two roads, you can choose which one to use. If you want to use the public one, it will take you longer to get to where you are going. If you use the private one, you will take 10 minutes to get to where you are going while the other one will take one hour and 50 minutes. Therefore, we need to offer Kenyans choices. If one is willing to pay but get better services, so be it. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Committee sincerely appreciates all the feedback that has been given. We will comb the HANSARD and make sure that we develop a report that will be discussed not only with the corporations but with the parent Ministry. There are areas that have been emphasized whereby we need policy and legislation. The Committee on Energy and that of Roads and Transportation, again, will go through the HANSARD and make sure that through the parent Ministry, we fast track Bills to come to this House so that we can discuss, legislate and take steps in implementing some of these suggestions which have been discussed here. When we were talking about the Port of Mombasa, my colleague from Kwale County emotionally talked about the people and the benefits from the port. The Dongo Kundu by-pass that is to connect Mombasa Island to the mainland south and also the Mshomoroni by-pass to connect the north are very important. However, the Dongo Kundu by-pass project has been shrouded in controversies. One of the controversies is that there are people, when they learnt that the Dongo Kundu by-pass was passing through there, they got title deeds. They want to sell the pieces of land to the Government at very exorbitant prices. We need to implore the Government to make sure that this issue is concluded and the Dongo Kundu project is implemented. This matter has been discussed in many fora for more than 20 years. These are the things that the Committee on Roads and Transportation will need to follow up, so that these key projects are implemented. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in terms of the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL), this is a strategic unit. It is the only refinery in East Africa. Therefore, even if we are looking at upgrading or replacing the current one which can only produce four million metric tonnes per year, but with modernization, we can get private investors to 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."
}