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{
    "id": 802105,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/802105/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Gikaria",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2489,
        "legal_name": "David Gikaria",
        "slug": "david-gikaria"
    },
    "content": "ongoing projects which are, on average, at almost 75 per cent completion. Not even a single shilling was given in the Financial Year 2018/2019. You will understand that this brings a lot of holding charges and idle time because the contractors are already on site. They are charging us the holding charges and they are idle. So, it is important for the National Treasury to be considerate in matters to settle the pending bills. The critical projects like the Last Mile Connectivity, connectivity subsidies, street lighting and connection of public facilities are grossly underfunded. These projects are key to enhancing a level of power connectivity to the common mwananchi. Again, I want to reiterate and thank BAC that we were able to be given some extra funding to cater for the Last Mile Connectivity, the transformer connectivity and the street lighting which brings a 24-hour economy. That was after our presentation to the Committee. The Committee observed that the delay by the national Government in putting funds to improve transmission grid lines has aided in the following negative effects: The high cost of power is due to the use of expensive Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited’s power which is imported from our neighbours and by use of the Muhoroni Diesel Generators in western Kenya. This is where out of the 13 transmission lines which have not been funded and they are almost 75 per cent complete, we have almost six lines in western Kenya which are supposed to be connected to the national grid. The other effect is the unreliable power due to lack of sufficient transmission projects. Then, a high cost of overruns due to delay in progressing its transmission projects. It results in costly projects and donor unrest due to project delays. The African Development Bank is considering withdrawing funding to Kenya, particularly the Tanzania line due to project delays. We, as a country are paying such huge holding charges just because we are unable to complete the transmission lines. The Committee also observed that there are 13 projects which are ongoing in which we required Kshs13.4 billion for way leave cost. However, only a paltry Kshs1.7 billion had been allocated in the 2017/2018 Financial Year. I thank BAC for reinstating almost Kshs4 billion for that purpose. The State Department of Petroleum has been allocated Kshs3.5 billion for the Financial Year 2018/2019. Despite the Government’s push to reduce dependence on kerosene, it is still a line of adulteration of fuel just because the difference of kerosene and diesel is so huge. As a Committee we are thinking of how this Government will increase the cost of kerosene to address this. Kenya is quickly losing its reputation as a transferring agent and a transport corridor for fuel on transit owing to the unnecessary delay on our roads. Again, we will ask the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Planning to reduce the number of roadblocks so that there is free movement of trucks on our roads."
}