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{
    "id": 1062529,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1062529/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 179,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "South Imenti, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kathuri Murungi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2802,
        "legal_name": "Kathuri Murungi",
        "slug": "kathuri-murungi"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No.44(2)(c), I seek to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing regarding facilitation of university and college students during partial cessation of movement in the country and increased fare by the transport subsector. On 26th March 2021, the President announced partial lockdown, cessation of movement and instituted new curfew measures to start from 8.00 p.m. to 4.00 a.m. in five counties, namely, Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Machakos and Kajiado counties, as the country is experiencing a third wave of the deadly virus. The President also ordered an immediate suspension of all face-to-face teaching, which includes colleges and universities, with the exception of students currently taking exams. The lockdown took effect almost immediately making people rush to meet the deadlines set for instance, all colleges and universities were directed to close down indefinitely and travelling times for those within or without the five counties under lockdown was extended to 8.00 p.m. on Sunday. Due to the travel rush to beat the deadlines, matatu operators have hiked fares up to 500 per cent. This has occasioned many students to get stranded in their respective campuses and others in towns, since they have been ordered to move out of the campuses with immediate effect. It is on this account that I seek for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing on the following: (1) Could the Government consider giving university and college students more time to organise their travel and by extension, give them clear passage to their home counties? (2) Could the Ministry intervene and direct the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to act with speed and rein in on rogue Matatu Saccos that are hiking fares across the country and consider suspending their operating licences to stem the vice? As you refer this request to the responsible Committee, since those students are already suffering and are out there on the streets and others in the villages where the universities are located, how fast can the Chair of the Committee intervene so that we save the poor students who are aimlessly roaming in the universities, and out of the campuses? The reason for this request is that students who were travelling from Kisumu to Nairobi yesterday were charged Kshs4,500. Many Members in this House can concur with me that they are in contact with their students who are really suffering. They are requesting us for fares. We are humbly remunerated. We cannot afford to pay fares for every student in this country. As you refer this request, kindly let the Chairperson also save the students by giving this request for a Statement 24-hour attention, so that they can be rescued."
}