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{
    "id": 663228,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/663228/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 209,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13119,
        "legal_name": "Agnes Zani",
        "slug": "agnes-zani"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me start by observing that this is a very important Bill. In a very innovative and systematic way, it brings across the various sectors and tries to create order by mainly creating various regulatory bodies. For example, starting with a commission that has quite a bit of power to ensure that there is order in the sector. It looks at issues like licences and, indeed, also co-opts the role of county governments to ensure that it is done in a proper way. This Energy Bill is critical because I think it will bring order. Therefore, I stand to support it. Let me highlight some of the critical issues which might be important as we think and debate this Bill. The first is that the Cabinet Secretary will develop and publish a National Energy Policy, which is critical. I think many times we move on very quickly to make legislative proposals without looking at the general policy framework. I was really happy when I looked at this Bill and saw that there has to be a published energy policy. Better still, this policy in terms of the implementation and its upkeep, will be through a report that will be shared annually to Parliament, three months before the end of the year. So, this annual published report will also give direction as to how far the implementation of a policy has gone. I think that is a good idea as well because it helps us to link theory and the actual thing. So, policy being theory and the actual implementation to see how far it will go. The Cabinet Secretary will also develop, publish and review an energy plan in respect to the midstream and downstream petroleum, coal, renewable energy and electricity to ensure reliable energy services. Apart from having a general national plan that will be critical, as Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. Said, this plan will be cascaded. Again, if you look at the areas which it touches on like the key energy resources like coal and electricity, we have a lot of reserve for renewable energy that can be utilized. With the right policy and drive from the Cabinet Secretary, we should be able to get that. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is also expected that County Energy Plans should be made and subjected to the Cabinet Secretary. I think these plans need to be cascaded. To avoid disorder in this sector, it will be important that maybe we start with the bigger policy which is the national plan and then move to the county plans but also give guidelines so that those county plans are directly cascaded from the main national plan. 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"
}