HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 822521,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/822521/?format=api",
"text_counter": 72,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "August 9, 2018 SENATE DEBATES 9 Sen. Wetangula",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda includes industrialization and boosting manufacturing. We cannot industrialize or boost manufacturing if the cost of energy – which is a critical component and input – is prohibitive. In this country, electricity is extremely expensive. Even where it is available, the supply stability is extremely erratic. In the Western part of Kenya, we have permanent power surges, blackouts and dips to the extent that, as I speak here, I declare my interest as a victim. Last weekend, there was a terrible power surge in Bungoma and people lost millions of shillings worth of electronics in their households. It cost me Kshs150,000 to fix electrical appliances and other things in my own house. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kenya Power (KP) had a distinction, up to the 1970s, of being the most efficient utility company in this country. In fact, all advertisements during those years used to weigh anything efficient as being as efficient as Kenya Power. They were everybody’s admiration until cartels moved into the management of the KP and started lining up their pockets at the expense of the public. Mr. Speaker, Sir, a month ago, the KP announced to the country that they were going to lower electricity tariffs, only for them to spring up three weeks later with an increment in the tariffs that consumers pay. Therefore, what Sen. Khaniri has said is very important. It is in the interest of this Government to achieve the legacy being sought by the President; of turning Kenya into a middle level economy with successful manufacturing and industrial take-off. To achieve this, we must then have affordable, stable and readily available electricity. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when the Jubilee Government first came to power, they said that they will increase the supply of electricity by 5,000 megawatts. I am interested to hear from the Majority Leader about how many megawatts they have increased to date, because our consumption is still just around 2,000 megawatts. Therefore, if they were to increase by 5,000 megawatts in 2013, and at that time our consumption rate was 1,580 megawatts, we would be talking about more than 6,000 megawatts today. However, we are still at 2,000 megawatts. How are we going to industrialize? We have just had phenomenal rains in the country. The dams are full and the spillways of the dams went and devastated the entire Tana River County. If the hydro supply is at its optimum, why are electricity charges going up? These are big questions. Lastly, my brother from Nyeri County has stood here to proclaim his efficiency. I would want the Committee on Energy to take up this matter and save Kenyans from the chaotic situation in which Kenya Power Company is run and in the manner it is fleecing and overcharging people. People are unable to benefit even from the last mile connectivity. There is no point connecting a village or a house with power that is never there or it is there but nobody can afford it. These are critical issues and they need to be addressed. The distinguished Senator for Nyeri County should climb down from his pedestal and address the issues that the Senator for Vihiga County has brought, which he claims he was about to bring. Obviously, he was about to bring them because it has been brought."
}