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{
    "id": 116868,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/116868/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 500,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we know how fast we would want traffic to flow in and out of Nairobi. We know how such a road is supposed to be designed. Therefore, the Ministry of Roads should design it, based on the traffic flow for the next 30 years, advertise so that any person willing to construct and manage it, in accordance with the design that the Ministry will have prepared. In this case, the Government will construct the road and get somebody to just make money out of it. How will Kenyans who own land next to the road be compensated by a company that is not even registered? How are people going to carry out litigation? It is the Government which is supposed to compensate such people, in accordance with the compulsory acquisition law in the public interest. So, the issue of land acquisition can only be left to the Government, and not to a company. That is why the Government must design the road, acquire land and advertise the project with a view to getting somebody to build the road and then concession it for 30 years. That should be what should be acceptable. I find this to be a very awkward situation, where a Sessional Paper has been brought to Parliament, together with an agreement. For what purpose is the agreement? Is it for somebody to make money? They have even put a figure of US$900 million. What is it for? Even if they allow anybody to concession the road, there should be an issue of choice. Kenyans cannot be subjected to same things that have happened in this country in the last 40 years. I can understand the concession of the road between the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Limuru. This is because Kenyans, who cannot afford, can go through Westlands and around and about. But, you cannot concession the road between here and Mombasa and subject everybody to pay the toll fees which will be charged. The person can sweet talk the Minister to increase the charges because they are making money. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I can also understand concession between Nakuru and Eldoret because there will be by-passes. Kenyans can go through Eldama Ravine or even Kisumu to get to Eldoret or Malaba. So, these are the reasons concession can only be done under certain parameters and reasoning. I do not agree that this House should allow something like this to happen; to use public funds to construct roads and then allowing somebody to make money from the roads. I beg to oppose."
}