Dr. Oburu Odinga

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 851 to 860 of 1650.

• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is also important to note that the Government administered petroleum pricing aimed at ensuring automatic pricing mechanism that adjusts prices regularly in light of changes in the international oil prices for petroleum has not eased the increase of prices much. This is because the pump prices trace closely the global trend in the price of crude oil, which increased from US$91.85 per barrel in December, 2010 to US$120 per barrel in April, 2011. This translates to 30.6 per cent increase. view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: Experience elsewhere indicates that subsidy on fuel prices usually does not succeed and is costly to the Government. This is because:- (a) Most benefits from universal subsidies accrue to high income households. Universal petroleum subsidy benefits are mostly regressively distributed with over 80 per cent of total benefits accruing to the richest 40 per cent who use petrol, diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). (b) Even for kerosene subsidy, whose benefit is, at least, evenly distributed across all income groups, it is likely that it will be misdirected from household sector to transport sector through mixing with diesel and cross-border ... view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the problem of high oil prices is a global, continental, regional as well as a local problem. While hoping that the global supply structures of petroleum products will stabilize in the medium and long-term, subsidization is no longer a viable option to shield the low income households from the view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: ills of high oil prices. Most countries are moving towards targeted transfers as the ultimate solution. They have adapted temporary measures similar to the ones we are already implementing in Kenya. Hon. Members will remember that in the Budget Speech by hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, measures cushioning the vulnerable members of our society were outlined which increased, for instance, the monies given to the old people to Kshs470 million. This amount which include upward adjustment of the monthly transfer of Kshs2,000, as directed by this House, will enable us to increase the current ... view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, these subsidies, for instance, have not succeeded in the following countries:- In Indonesia, domestic petroleum prices increased between March and October, 2005, more than doubling and in May, 2008, prices again increased by between 25 to 33 per cent. They took mitigation measures as follows:- (a) A temporary cash transfer programme was implemented in 2005 to aid over 19 million poor families. A similar cash transfer accompanied price increases in 2008. (b) They maintained resource allocation to sectors such as education, health and infrastructure to spur the knock-on effect on the welfare of the low ... view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Jordan, petroleum subsidies were eliminated in 2008 resulting in a price increase of between 33 and 76 per cent. The mitigating measures that they took are as follows:- (a) The minimum wage was increased and low paid Government employees received a high wage increase. (b) On time bonus to low income Government employees and pensioners was introduced. (c) An electricity lifeline tariff was maintained at a low level. (d) Cash transfers to other low income households whose heads were non- government employees or pensioners was also introduced. view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government up-scaled funding to national aid fund and national safety net programme with the World Bank (WB). In 2005, the Government of Ghana used the finding of poverty and social impact analysis to show that petroleum subsidies benefitted predominantly high income groups. Parliament discussions on this matter were broadcasted in public and the weaknesses of subsidies, such as smuggling, shortages, black market activities and corruption highlighted. Petroleum subsidies were eliminated. view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: In Nigeria, experience in this giant of Africa indicates that subsidies to oil marketers did not yield the intended purpose. Oil marketers were being subsidized to haul products from Lagos Ports to the distant north of the country but most of them ended up selling the products at the point of collection thus starving the north off fuel supply. view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: It is important to note that subsidies are humanitarian in appeal but yield completely opposite results due to moral hazards and market failures. They can completely de-stop the market mechanism and lead to massive shortages, product rationing and black market activities. Besides, they are financially burdensome and difficult to account for. In light of the above, we propose that the Government should view
• 27 Jul 2011 in National Assembly: upscale the available social protection and safety net schemes that directly target the low income persons in our nation to cushion them from rising oil prices. We have undertaken these measures, as indicated in the Budget Statement read to this House, which I have quoted partially. view