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{
    "id": 1235755,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1235755/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 91,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ruaraka, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. TJ Kajwang’",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Good morning, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Bill. I speak as a member of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Members will know that I speak with some authority and understanding of the issues before us. The Member who has just spoken is the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, so you may want to listen to him. I am sure the Vice-Chairperson will also get an opportunity to speak. We say this so that Members are guided properly when making contributions, because we have had the benefit of listening to stakeholders. We have explored the law on this matter and done a bit of research to be able to guide Members on the issues before us. I compliment the Member for Ruiru, my compatriot and neighbour, Hon. Simon King’ara, whom we have served with in several Committees for a very long time. He is an astute legislator. Last term, he sponsored more than five pieces of legislation in this Assembly. This term alone, he has three or four in the pipeline. He is very interested in issues that go through this House. This is how it should be. We are here to make law. That is the primary reason why we are here. The Member for Ruiru is executing his mandate. I must compliment that. When Hon. King’ara appeared before us, we discovered that his Bill was based on a wrong misapprehension—that the boda boda industry was not being regulated by law. When we searched the law, we found that there is an existing legislation which sufficiently covers the boda boda industry. But Hon. King’ara has a point which we need to listen to. His point is that the boda boda is the most unregulated industry, resulting in many accidents. Boda boda operators are all over: one rides before you and another behind you. They ride against you and on your side. They have no respect for rules. There is need to enforce the regulations. We found that the problem is not lack of law. The problem is enforcing of the legislation and regulations in place. We want to guide Members, even as you vote on this, that it is not a question of lack of law but its enforcement. When the Chair says that we reject this piece of legislation, we are not negative. We are not saying that Hon. Simon has not done his bit. We are only saying that it was a misapprehension which can be cured. The fact is that there is a law. Regulations must be put in place so that this industry is properly regulated. I wanted to make this fact known because when I entered the Chamber, I found a Member who was eloquently speaking, like me, feeling that the boda boda industry is not regulated. He was supporting this Bill because it would help the boda boda industry. Perhaps, he did not have a copy of the Report. I urge Members to get it at the Table Office. It has been circulated. In it, you will see very well that there is a legislation on this issue. So, we do not need to make another one. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I oppose the Bill. My Chairman supported the Bill but I do not know why he did so. I oppose the Bill for the reasons that I have stated."
}