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{
"id": 56324,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/56324/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Chanzu",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 11,
"legal_name": "Yusuf Kifuma Chanzu",
"slug": "yusuf-chanzu"
},
"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the main purpose of this Bill is to address consumer protection. I want to commend the Minister for publishing the price regulations. I am happy that the Minister is listening to this. What has been lacking is regular information to Kenyans about what is happening. When we first heard that the prices would be fixed--- The prices had gone up to Kshs104 - the people expected that, that would last. We then heard that the prices were going up. Kenyans do not understand that the pricing is also affected, for example, by what is happening internationally. What convinces me is that if we allocate the 30 per cent or more for the purpose of protecting the consumer locally, then, in the long-term, it will be a worthwhile idea. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are a lot of recommendations here, one of which is for the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) to have outlets countrywide. That will help a lot. This means the Ministry now has to work very hard, in terms of regulation and supervision, to ensure that there is adequate efficiency; not like what we have occasionally seen with the Kenya Pipeline Corporation. If the Government can also cut down on overhead costs and operate efficiently at the NOCK, in a business manner â and not in the way some state corporations have operated in the past â then it is a worthwhile idea. What people are apprehensive about in this country is corruption. The moment you talk about something, because there has been so much corruption in very many sectors, the people get worried that they are going to see a price increase due to corruption. So, if it is to cost us slightly more now in order for us to improve on efficiency in future, then it is a worthwhile idea. We are saying that the price of kerosene should be reduced, because kerosene is used by most Kenyans. So, it is good that we are working towards that end. However, the best alternative would be, as has happened in other sectors, to get rid of the cost of more than Kshs35,000 that Kenyans have to pay through the Rural Electrification Programme (REP), so that more Kenyans can access electricity and avoid the inconvenience of the hazards we incur with the use of kerosene. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to commend the Minister, generally, for the reforms that have taken place in this sector. In the recent past, we could not talk about electricity in our rural areas but, five to seven years later, we can talk about electricity in rural areas, through the REP. However, we need to improve on efficiency in those areas. What I have noticed is that the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has not recruited adequate staff. Some of the officers the REA uses are not intended for running the Authorityâs programmes. Sometimes you find that there is no proper information because contractors are the ones who give information on what they are doing in the field, and not the officers themselves. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}