Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1129022,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1129022/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 417,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kajiado North, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Manje",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1669,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Wathigo Manje",
        "slug": "joseph-wathigo-manje"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me a chance to support the Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill. Transportation is a fundamental trade in a country. A country cannot develop if the road infrastructure is not properly done. This is because it forms a basis of movement of people and goods from one area or country to another, and roads are key in the development of a country. I want to thank our engineers for coming up with good designed roads in the country like, the Nairobi Expressway, which is changing the face of Nairobi and it is appearing like any other international capital. I wish to congratulate them and request them to do the same for other big towns in our country, so that they can become proud as well. Those engineers take so many years training at the university and also undertaking post-university capacity building. Therefore, they need to be assisted in their work through provision of resources. After training for many years, we should give them resources so that they can assist in building and developing this country. The amendment is changing the term of office from three to five years. It is very appropriate because many major Government projects are done within that period of time. For example, it will not be good to transfer the Director-General in between a project because a project cycle takes more time than that. By moving this period from three to five years renewable, that is the way to go. So, if the Director-General was supervising certain roads, there can be continuity until the completion of a project. This amendment is very appropriate given the nature of our projects and how they are financed in the country. Sometimes, the exchequer delays for a period of more than three years. Also, the post-registration experience being reduced from 15 to 10 years is appropriate. The world is seeking people who can work smart within a short period. This age restriction might have been a hindrance to many engineers who are up-to-date and can be offered managerial positions. It actually corresponds to the work experience which young people are asked about every time. Reducing this from 15 years to 10 years is appropriate because it will give energetic people a chance to serve when they can. As it is now, you cannot be a Director-General of the three organisations that is Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) or Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) if you are less than 45 years because of the required fifteen years’ experience after registration as an engineer. Also due to emerging issues like the internet, we find many engineers use it to get more experience within a very short time. Young people are more talented in this area of internet and they get a lot of information from it. Therefore, we should not restrict them as far as this area is concerned. I wish to applaud our engineers because of the good road designs that they have come up with. I hear Thika Road was designed by our own engineers. I wish they can be provided with resources the way companies from outside are provided. The reason why many Kenyan engineers and contractors are not doing very well is because of lack of resources. The difference between our engineers and the Chinese ones is that they are supported by their governments and banks. That is why you see them doing projects to completion. 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."
}