{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=153618","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=153616","results":[{"id":1554362,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554362/?format=json","text_counter":216,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tharaka, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. George Murugara","speaker":null,"content":" It is okay, he may inform me."},{"id":1554363,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554363/?format=json","text_counter":217,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): You may proceed. Please inform him."},{"id":1554364,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554364/?format=json","text_counter":218,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Mwingi West, WDM","speaker_title":"Hon. Charles Nguna","speaker":null,"content":" I would like to inform him that Kitui is one of the richest counties in terms of minerals, especially copper and gemstones. Therefore, I was very happy and excited when he mentioned Kitui County. Thank you."},{"id":1554365,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554365/?format=json","text_counter":219,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Laughter)"},{"id":1554366,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554366/?format=json","text_counter":220,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tharaka, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. George Murugara","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Temporary Speaker, that is a little bit hilarious. He makes me laugh now because I am very familiar with the topography of Kitui County, which is similar to that of my county of Tharaka Nithi, especially Tharaka The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."},{"id":1554367,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554367/?format=json","text_counter":221,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Tharaka, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. George Murugara","speaker":null,"content":"Constituency. I know where copper is in both counties. I can mention the names of those places. I am urging the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs to get to where copper is in the country, mine it and start turning it into light. That is what Zambia did. That is why electricity connectivity in Zambia is much better than in Kenya. It does not matter how people live. It matters not whether people live in grass-thatched houses or not. In a modern country like Kenya, everybody should be connected to electricity. I have called upon the Ministry of Energy to ensure that not just Tharaka Constituency but all the constituencies in Kenya move towards 100 per cent electricity connectivity. That is what this Bill aims to do. I have just spoken to the management of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) regarding a transformer which blew up about two months ago at Ruungu in Tharaka Constituency. It has not been repaired because the parts are not available. They have to be imported. I know for sure that once they are imported, they will be subjected to taxation. They become expensive, and sometimes, KPLC is not able to procure those parts as quickly as it should. This Bill seeks to aid KPLC and all the companies licensed to assemble transformers locally to ensure we start producing accessories locally. Once enacted, the Bill will enable KPLC and other companies to repair transformers and accessories at minimal costs to benefit all Kenyans. This is a Bill we should support. I beg to support too."},{"id":1554368,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554368/?format=json","text_counter":222,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you. Next is the Member for Endebess, Hon. (Dr) Pukose."},{"id":1554369,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554369/?format=json","text_counter":223,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Endebess, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to this debate. I support the Bill because the Excise Duty of 25 per cent being removed on assembled transformers is a great improvement. This was in the Finance Bill of 2024 that was rejected. If you look back, you will realise that some of the things that were rejected would have positively impacted the economy. If this amendment had been carried a year ago, we would be steps ahead by now. At times, we are so impatient as a country. We do not take time to study some important amendments, this being one of them. Our country is going through a lot of change right now. One of the biggest challenges in rural areas is the lack of electricity supply in almost all villages. As we speak, the KPLC, in collaboration with the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), is continuously connecting houses, schools and public facilities to electricity in the villages. Everybody is rushing to say they need electricity in their homes. Therefore, this is a very critical service because electricity improves security. It also provides electric power so that children can study at night. That way, a child in a rural place will have equal opportunities with a child in urban areas. Rural populations will be able to access amenities like people in urban areas. When we remove Excise Duty, we will encourage local manufacturing thus creating jobs and benefit from technology transfer. There will be a lot of multiplier effects that will arise from the passage of this Bill. This is, therefore, a very important Amendment Bill. With those few remarks, I support."},{"id":1554370,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554370/?format=json","text_counter":224,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much. Next is Hon. Osoro, the Member for South Mugirango and the Majority Whip."},{"id":1554371,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1554371/?format=json","text_counter":225,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"South Mugirango, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Silvanus Osoro","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also rise to support this very important Bill that seeks to remove the 25 per cent Excise Duty on imported transformer spare parts. That should be very clear. This confirms that the Bill rejected last year was not as bad as people wanted to make it look. They went to the streets without understanding some of the proposals being pushed through. Each Member in this House has an issue or two regarding electricity connectivity in their constituencies. Due to the growing population, there is a challenge of overloading The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."}]}