Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 822676,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/822676/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Normally, when policies are made, for example, Vision 2030, it is just referred to for convenience. The Big Four Agenda sounds very nice if you go to the village and say them. What legal basis drives them? It is very nice talking about them in a baraza or some multitude. When we want to carry out some kind of agenda that is undefined, then we say, “Yes, we have the Big Four Agenda.” It is not tested or based on any kind of law. This is, therefore, a very important matter. The stakeholders should be defined and Parliament’s approval sought. Just to emphasise the point that I am making, Clause 5(2) together with sub-clause 3, requires that each county government shall develop and submit a county energy plan to the CS in respect of its energy requirement. All that the county government is required to do is to submit their requirements. What the CS does with it is a matter that is entirely left to the CS. That is why I was saying that the stakeholders should be defined. I was listening to the Senate Leader Majority carefully and heard him emphasise that issues of energy are within the concurrent mandate of both levels of government which is why counties are important. Following that argument, it is important that it is put in the Bill that the county governments have to meet in this presentation. They should then sit together with the CS to determine that policy plan that should eventually come to Parliament for purposes of approval. That is not something burdensome to demand because it comes once in every five years. Nobody should, therefore, be saying that we are micro-managing county governments or the national Government. Madam Temporary Speaker, in sub-clause 4, it is then upon the CS to consolidate the plans contemplated in sub-Sections 2 and 3 into an integrated national energy plan which shall be reviewed after three years. Again, it is the CS who does that. The way I heard the Senate Majority Leader speak here, I think, probably, the views of the CS would be very important at the time of that integration. For those views to become important, the CS should come to this House to justify the need for that plan or policy. This is because it has also got a resource and financial bearing so that when Parliament which was transparent and accountable to elected leaders in the republic--- Again, the CS shall prescribe regulations on the content and timelines for preparation of the energy plans. There is the CS with too much power which, if left untampered, we would end up with an energy sector which is completely driven by the CS. There is an obligation on the part of the Government in sub-clause 7 where it says that the Government shall facilitate the provision of affordable energy services to all persons in Kenya. That is a general statement. What happens if the Government does not? We are creating a right on the public that they have the right to affordable energy service. What about if the Government does not provide that service? What is the punishment and sanctions? That may be an empty provision and right given by the law. However, in reality, that does not benefit the public in any significant way. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Cabinet Secretary shall develop a conducive environment for the promotion of investments in energy infrastructure development. I am saying so because when I was dealing with the case of the construction of power lines that were going through Kajiado and Narok, the people were not involved. It was a decision by the Government. In fact, I do not think the President was involved in the 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."
}