Page 13 - People Daily Newspaper

Monday, September 20, 2021 / PEOPLE DAILY NEWS BEAT

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@PeopleDailyKe
Mystery surrounds the
disappearance of at least four
Upper House lawmakers RECENT HAPPENINGS men from Gatundu in Kiambu
want Petroleum and after they were picked up by
In the recent past, the cost of electricity people believed to be police
Energy ministers to give and fuel has been in a steady rise with the officers.
reasons for freqent hikes latest announcement by the Energy and Latest case is that of Stanley
Petroleum Regulatory Authority sparking Mutua, a 34-year-old busi-
protests. nessman, alleged to have been
by Hillary Mageka Senators now want Energy CS and his picked from his shop at Kimu-
@hillarymageka nyu trading centre in Gatundu
Petroleum counterpart to shed light on the
rising fuel and electricity costs. South by “policemen” more
Senators have summoned Energy Cabi- than two weeks ago.
net Secretary Charles Keter and his Petro- Relatives said Mutua (pic-
leum counterpart John Munyes to appear tured), who operates a phone
before them tomorrow to shed light on the economy is down, Kenya Revenue Au- repair and electronics shop,
high fuel and electricity costs. thority is looking for taxes through in- was confronted by six men
In the recent past, the cost of electricity creasing fuel prices. This hurts Kenyans on September 3 at his shop
and fuel has been in a steady rise with last because every aspect of Kenya depends and forced into a private car.
week announcement by the Energy and on fuel,” he said. His whereabouts remain un-
Petroleum Regulatory Authority sparking Legislators were reacting to a statement known since.
protests. filed by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei His brother, Kennedy
The State removed subsidies of Sh7.10 regarding increase of petroleum prices by Kimathi and wife Ann Mutho-
on petrol, Sh9.90 on diesel and Sh11.36 on Epra on September 14. ni, said they have searched for “Our pleas to the police to
kerosene that applied on the prices of fuel In the statement, Cherargei wants the the father of one in several po- help resolve the matter have
sold in the month to September 14. committee, chaired by Nyeri Senator lice stations in vain and have not born any fruit,” he said.
Consequently, the removal of the sub- Ephraim Maina to explain why the gov- since asked the Independent
sidy increased the price of petrol by Sh7.58 Nyamunga said. ernment has dropped subsidies. Police Oversight Authority Latest case
a litre in Nairobi to Sh134.72 while diesel Nyamunga said she was at some point “State why fuel prices have been on the (Ipoa) to intervene. Kimathi said his brother’s
jumped by Sh7.94 to Sh115.6 a litre — the shocked to receive an electricity bill of rise in the past months yet EPRA and min- “When we went to Gatundu disappearance has left them
highest in Kenya’s history. Sh53,000 yet she has been paying around istry of Energy and Petroleum have done Police Station the same eve- in distress and appealed to the
Lawmakers want Munyes (pictured) to Sh18,000 or Sh19,000 monthly. “Anytime nothing to stabilise them,” the statement. ning he was picked up, officers authorities, including area MP
explain why the State stopped subsidies, you complain, they come to read the It adds: “State the status of the Ngamia told us they were not aware of Moses Kuria, to act and help
with the expensive fuel set to unleash meter then they say that was the reading. 1 Oil Drilling by Tullow Oil Company and the arrest and referred us to them find their kin.
pricing pressure across the economy and What is going on in the country is wrong. the total amount of funds collected by DCI headquarters but we did Villagers said the abduc-
have ramifications on the cost of living Something should be done. We know government from the export of the oil and not get any assistance,” said tion of Mutua is the latest case
measure. what the problem is, but we are not solv- its significance to Kenyans.” Kimathi. of youths disappearing after
Keter is wanted to clarify on skyrocket- ing it,” she said. Reached for comment, being “arrested by persons be-
ing electricity costs amid graft claims fac- Nominated Senator Mary Seneta said Landlocked countries Gatundu South Sub-County lieved to be policemen”. Oth-
ing top management of the power utility. an increase in the cost of fuel means an Cherargei also wants the government Police commander Wilmot ers include Moses Ndegwa
“This is a thorny matter. I direct that the increase in food prices, cost of produc- state to explain why fuel prices are much Mwakio said he would en- said to have been abducted on
committee on Energy immediately issue tion and transport for the already suffer- higher in Kenya compared to landlocked quire from his officers of a September 1 at Kimunyu by
summonses to the Energy and Petroleum ing Kenyans. neighbouring countries such Uganda report of a missing person. a gun-wielding man. He has
CSs and all the other stakeholders like “We should live in reality and read how yet they collect the fuel from our port in Michael Mwangi, a friend of never been found. Also Eliud
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Author- Kenyans are feeling. The Covid-19 pan- Mombasa. Mutua, who also works at the Njoroge, a sand truck loader,
ity (Epra) to appear on Tuesday,” Senate demic has put Kenyans in a poor state in “As you are aware, most of this pric- shop said some of the people disappeared in February after
Speaker Ken Lusaka ruled on Wednesday. terms of business. So, if we will not look ing are half. Eight per cent goes to Value who “arrested” his colleague a similar “arrest” at Murram
Nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga la- at this, Kenyans will be on their own,” Se- added Tax, which is half of the taxation. are known local policemen. trading centre.
mented that MPs are doing nothing to ad- neta said. This is due to the operationalisation of
dress the rising cost of electricity and fuel. Mandera Senator Mohamed Mahamud the Finance Act, 2018 and the Tax Law
“What is happening in the country is said the cost of fuel should be dependent Amendment 2020, as recommended by
unfortunate. We should summon the on the cost of international fuel prices. the Energy Committee of the National 7UHH SODQWLQJ GULYH IRU
Cabinet Secretaries, Permanent Secre- “Taxes account to over 40 per cent of Assembly?” asked the senator.
taries and all other concerned bodies,” fuel prices. In fact, at this time when the GHJUDGHG SXEOLF IRUHVWV
by Wycliff Kipsang agencies are being encour-
@wsang08 aged to support this pro-
gramme by adopting and
The government has
Health committed to plant a bil- conserving forests.”
Deforestation costs the
chat lion trees to increase forest country Sh5.8 billion an-
cover.
nually, which amounts to
Environment PS Chris
Governor Kiptoo said the Kenya Forest about two per cent of the
Charity Ngilu Research Institute has pro- GDP. Forestry resources
talks to clinical cured 60,000 metric tonnes contribute about three per
cent to the economy.
officers and of seedlings to be distrib- Kiptoo said deforesta-
nurses at uted to all counties. tion has reduced forest
Zombe Level “We will soon roll out a
4 Hospital, in tree planting programme cover from 12 per cent in
the 1960s to about seven per
Kitui county, countrywide. The ministry cent currently.
on Thursday is working with other State Government plans to
when she agencies to achieve this,” Dr rehabilitate over 5.2 mil-
launched a Kiptoo said when he pre- lion hectares of degraded
X-Ray facility sided over tree planting in forest landscapes as part of
and a new Nandi on Saturday. the national challenge of
ambulance He said the Cabinet has Paris agreement on climate
for the facility. approved a national strategy change. “Areas that require
Also unveiled for tree-planting, targeting rehabilitation have been
the same day degraded public forests, identified. Water towers
were dustless wetlands, sanctuaries and are under threat of human
town and road conservancies. “We want to activities and the ministry is
construction ensure all water towers are committed to achieve 10 per
projects. PD/ restored for us to achieve 10 cent forest cover in line with
STEVE MUMBU per cent forest cover. Other Vision 2030,” said Kiptoo.