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{
    "id": 1316334,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1316334/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 286,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Gideon Ochanda",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Kimani messed up when he was talking about the dual carriage way. He forgot about the Kiswahili bit in it. Anyway, that is why I am not using it, Hon. Kiarie. The whole idea of One-Stop Border Post was fantastic, and as a country, we ought to have utilised it optimally. However, what is happening is that we are missing opportunities. A lot of the goods and services that move across the region are from Kenya and from the international community through our ports. The long corridor between us and Uganda, for example, is in Kenya. Therefore, all the problems that most of these people are encountering in the movement of goods is basically on our side. We are not doing enough to see that commodities move flawlessly, which is to our disadvantage. Talking of One-Stop Border Posts and the small administrative matter that happened, quite a bit of that is international. The local communities in Busia or Migori hardly use the border posts. They just cross from one country to the other using all manner of routes such that by the end of it all, it is not benefitting them. That is exactly why there was the idea of Jumuia Market, which has been talked about over ages and we have not seen it come up. One was supposed to be in Busia. Funds were there for its construction, but it has never come up for the purposes of benefitting the local communities. So, local communities are not really benefitting from the One-Stop Border Posts. Another thing that is causing problems is the breakdown of systems. Every time we talk about breakdown of systems. In a week, the Kenyan side experiences more of these breakdowns than any other country in the region. The idea of goods from Kenya being charged on the Ugandan side causes an immediate breakdown of system for charging goods from the Ugandan side coming to the Kenyan side. Due to that delay, the other side reciprocates even when there is no system breakdown. When that happens, it means that we are the ones who are losing in the process. We are the ones who have all these many control points. Instead of the whole process benefitting us, this country is losing. We are losing to an extent that if you go to Malaba, you find that the Ugandan side has water, but the Kenyan side does not have water. Toilets on the Kenyan side do not work, but those on the Ugandan side work. Instead of Kenya Revenue Authority staff and Customs officials staying on the Kenyan side of Malaba, they stay on the Ugandan side. When it comes to parking, in the evenings, all vehicles move from the Malaba-Uganda to Malaba-Kenya because parking is free. We have it free, but on the Ugandan side, if they cross, they are charged. What is it that we are doing? We are losing revenue as we watch. I have just given the example of water. You know you cannot pipe water from Malaba- Uganda to Malaba-Kenya because you have to cross the border. They will not allow you. These 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."
}