Rt. Hon.(Eng) Raila Amolo Odinga

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 711 to 720 of 1732.

• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, In fact, I am going to address this particular subject next week, that is, the issue of the cost of inter- connectivity. For now, I want to say that in the rest of the world, it is very easy to be able to connect or to transfer from one network to the other network, but because we have enjoyed monopoly for far too long, interconnectivity fees have remained very high. We have discussed this matter with the Minister for Information and Communications to ensure that the cost is made more affordable. Airtel Kenya has invested heavily ... view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government is very concerned about job security for Kenyans, who are in employment and we will do everything possible to protect jobs. However, we must also look at the other side of the equation. That is the profit side. The companies that he is talking about are used to making billions and billions of shillings every year. Part of that money can be used to retain people in employment, instead of saying that we are going to interfere with competition because jobs are going to be lost. The company that he is referring to has ... view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I said “one of the highest” and not “the highest”. However, with 20 million in a population of 39 million, the hon. Member needs to appreciate that those who are remaining are children, some of whom are still being nursed. These are people who are not yet in the age of owning a mobile phone. That leaves a very small percentage of our population who do not have access to mobile telephones. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we would like to spread the network as far as possible. That is why we are talking about co-operation amongst ... view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Mr. Mututho is concerned about the differentials in tax revenues, or contributions, by the different service providers. I would want to say that I do not have the formula, which the KRA uses in levying these taxes. I think that will account for the differentials that there are relative to the figures. That information is easily available at the KRA; the figures I have are from the KRA itself. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have listened very carefully to Dr. Khalwale. I am not aware of the information that Dr. Khalwale is trying to provide, that ... view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not need information because I am answering the hon. Member’s question. view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it would be unfortunate if we were to be fighting the price wars of the operators in this House. Some operators would sponsor people to come and fight their wars in this House. view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, commercial competition is healthy. No company is so mad that it can try to lower its prices to a level where it makes losses. I would really urge hon. Members; let us allow healthy capitalist competition. Let the House not become the agents of trying to fight the war for, and on behalf of, one against the other. Thank you. view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I had said earlier on that I was going to address this issue more comprehensively next week. But I also want to inform hon. Members that I am going to convene a meeting - I have already scheduled it - of all the operators in this sector in order to discuss, with a view to levelling the playing field. The Government’s responsibility is to be a regulator so that the field is level for all the regulators. This is our responsibility and we are going to do it properly so that the competition continues to remain ... view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I did not mislead any Kenyan. I also bought very heavily into Safaricom and I have not disposed of those shares. Buying shares in the capital market is like a gamble; you will make profits when the going is good and you will also make losses when the going is bad. I want to say that I am still holding onto those shares because I do believe strongly that Safaricom shares will go up one day, but this is the risk you must take as an investor. So, it is not that view
• 16 Feb 2011 in National Assembly: is going to fall tomorrow. On the other hand, it must be understood that the serious competition that we are talking about did not come immediately after the floating of the IPOs of Safaricom . This just started in September last year. view