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{
    "id": 463712,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/463712/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 277,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "asking ourselves, is this huge bottom line as a result of the fact that they are not making the necessary investment, so that the consumers can get quality service? It is no secret that on Fridays it is almost impossible to call on any of our networks, particularly some large ones. The dropped calls are very many; sometimes I may be calling someone who is next door and my phone says, “Sorry, the mobile subscriber cannot be reached”, yet their phone is on. These are issues that are of concern; as a nation we have to address them. It saddens me and I have raised these matters in our Committee; in Kenya the penalties so far stipulated in our laws have been too little. If you charge, for example, giants like Safaricom Kshs.500,000 for a violation of that nature, that to them is pocket change. I am happy that for the first time this amendment is seeking to introduce penalties which will be a quarter of their gross turnover. Now, the Telcommunication bodies will start to fill the pinch, and they will start to invest more, so that we are able to get what we pay for. It is really not right that dropped calls become the order of the day. Incomplete calls are also common; you maybe talking to someone and then all of a sudden you are cut in the middle and there is no recourse anywhere; even when it is there, it is very lenient. I know there has been a spirited attempt by the Telkom bodies to try not to have this implemented in law. I am appealing to Members of this House that the proposal as it is now for 1 per cent of their gross turnover to cater for violations will make them be able to provide better quality service. as the terms of their licensing requires them to do. It is only ethical if your terms of licensing state that you have to stick to certain parameters. For example if we are in a contract and I buy something from you, there are certain guarantees that the seller has to give the buyer. This is what we are talking about regarding the quality of service in the Telkom bodies. This is a matter they have been fighting aggressively; I know there is a lot of lobbying by the Telkom bodies, for penalties to be reduced. The penalty that has been proposed of 1 per cent of the gross turnover is very good, and we will start to see not only the growth of Telecommunications in this country, but also the growth of quality service; customers should get value for money. Many parts of Kenya are still not accessed, and the idea of the Universal Service Fund, as proposed in the Bill, has been there even in the amended Act of 2008 but the implementation has been weak. Now that we have a trust to look after this Fund we should start by looking at all areas in Kenya. Where we are now, telecommunications is no longer a privilege; it is becoming a right of everybody to able to communicate whenever and wherever. The Chairman has just spoken about the proposal to have the Cabinet Secretary appoint a new board after 14 days. As a Committee, we feel that a level of continuity and institutional memory is important for this new authority to be able to get a foothold in the field. We will be coming here as a Committee and requesting the House that this proposal in the Bill be amended, so that we can allow those who are there at the moment to steer the new corporation for a certain duration before we start looking into bringing in new people to run it. Finally, every time I stand in this House, I am a very proud Kenyan and one of the things that have concerned me is the fact that by and large the ownership in the Telkom The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}