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{
    "id": 822592,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/822592/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 143,
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    "content": "also the interests of future generations, making the earth a better place to live. That is why the use of hydro power is being reduced and more clean energy like solar and wind energy is being encouraged, including geothermal energy which contributes less to global warming. We cannot fight science. It makes it clear and shows that if you give the earth positive things, you will get positive remits. If you plant trees, you will get a good environment and it will also hit us badly if we destroy it because the environment and the earth have nothing to lose. It is the inhabitants who have something to lose. We cannot be that selfish to destroy the earth even when we know that our children and future generations depend on a good environment for survival. Madam Temporary Speaker, I erroneously said that there are 33 functions but they are 43 that have been listed for this important agency. I do not want to read all of them. The Authority has also been given powers to deal with matters to do with issuance of licenses, review of contracts and tariffs and charges. If this Authority was there, Kenyans do not need to worry because it is different from the generating companies. So, Kenya Power will be the one providing energy, reticulation and provision of energy to houses and billing us. All complaints related to how Kenyans are being fleeced of their money by poor meters and billing by the energy companies will now be dealt with because we will have an independent agency that Kenyans can complain to. In the absence of that authority, no one will check the functions of those institutions. In fact, the law says that this authority must work closely with other agencies such as the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) to ensure that laboratories are accredited. There has been the sugar debate in the other House to determine whether it was tested by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). Such an issue will be dealt with when it comes to energy because we will have a regulatory authority that will consult the KEBS and KENAS before getting back to Kenyans. We are at a level where Kenyans can present petitions and where the institution of Parliament can work with them to find out what is happening. What I like about the Authority is that there will be a clear separation of powers between those who generate energy, those who regulate energy and those who do the billing. This is important because it will ensure that there is accountability through separation of powers. We have so many other powers that the authority will have including inspection; issuing of orders and directions; formulating and reviewing environmental and health standards; dealing with matters of purchasing of contracts and reviewing purchasing of contracts. We have a problem at the moment because Kenya Power and KenGen are the ones that award contracts. We will have an agency whose responsibility will be to review those contracts so that Kenyans do not lose money through conflict of interest of institutions that have the power to give the contracts and at the same time are expected to regulate themselves. There are other normal provisions just like others where we will have a board, the director-general, the secretariat. These are issues that are already known to Members and I do not want to overemphasize that. 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."
}