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{
    "id": 1129247,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1129247/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 43,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wako",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 366,
        "legal_name": "Amos Sitswila Wako",
        "slug": "amos-wako"
    },
    "content": "Kisumu to Port Bell in Uganda takes 12 hours, but if the same has to go by road, it will take 72 hours. Mr. Speaker Sir, it is stated that a ship can load four times as much as can be loaded on a trailer or truck going to Uganda. The shipment has really improved because of the Big Push Investment in Kisumu. It takes 72 hours by road because of the congestion at the Busia and Malaba border. Whereas in the hinterland, the infrastructure has been done well. This infrastructure has caused more vehicles, transporters and trailers to go by road and they have to pass through either Busia or Malaba. The border points have not been restructured to take care of the increased load. I am calling for further investment in Busia and Malaba. I am calling for further investment on the infrastructure of the roads in Busia County Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is one road from Malaba to Busia, another road from Nambale to Matayos to Sio Port and to Port Victoria through Funyula. We have been talking about it for a long time. The former President, H.E Mwai Kibak came there and ordered it to be done because of the insecurity at the border but that has not been done to date. We have so much development going on in other areas, but Busia is missing out. I am talking about this because it is so important. The importance of regional cooperation has been highlighted from paragraphs 300 to 308 where the President spoke about the African unity and the need for greater intervention and consolidation in East Africa and that movements are going on in this regard. That is why I appeal to the Powers and Privileges Committee that, in view of this major development, which the President referred to in his Speech, the Senate should not be left out of the discussions on development. I, therefore, take this Floor to appeal to you to consider that issue about Committee on East Africa and Regional Cooperation. Mr. Speaker Sir, the last one because you have just given me a short time, we have been concerned about the militarization of the Government. It is true that the military has made a positive impact on the various places where they have been involved. Examples have been given of the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), which has turned around. I know because I was in Government. We tried it during President Moi’s Government, but KMC did not work. We again also tried in President Kibaki’s Government with hon. Munyao as Minister for Livestock and Development. It just worked for a few months and then it again died. However, with the military, within a few months, the KMC has already been turned around. Farmers are now being paid within 72 hours instead of waiting for four years. The collections have improved from Kshs8,000 per day to Kshs1 million per day and so on. Therefore, something has happened. Mr. Speaker Sir, the military has also been instrumental in revamping the railway gauge from Nairobi to Nanyuki and from Nairobi to Kisumu. We have seen what the military is doing with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services in Nairobi. For example, they have built 15 fully-fledged health centers within the metropolis and free 1,600 water points in the informal settlement areas and so on. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}