HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1334244,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1334244/?format=api",
"text_counter": 157,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Works",
"speaker": {
"id": 440,
"legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
"slug": "kipchumba-murkomen"
},
"content": " Hon. Speaker, for the assurance of the House, I will be tabling an itemised budget by this House passed in this financial year, clear with indication of the money for every road, county and constituency so that it becomes clear that there is no other entity in this country or in the world that budgets for roads for our country except this august House. It is, therefore, unfortunate that these projects were misconstrued as an introduction of new projects. I am just giving a summary, as you guided, Hon. Speaker. For the avoidance of doubt, the replacement of non-performing contractors, some of whom have abandoned site, is continuous. After termination of a contract, the replacement is done through an open tender as provided in an annex that I have here, which is part of the advertisement just after the one Hon. Mbui spoke about. The annex we have provided indicates the number of projects that were re- tendered by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). Anyone looking at the advertisements in isolation would be forgiven to think that they are new projects or the process is giving advantage to seven counties against the others. Some of the re-advertised projects were initially tendered in 2015, 2016 and 2017, but the contractors have not been able to deliver to date. It was only in the interest of justice in these counties that the KeRRA re-advertises those as approved by the Attorney-General. Some of the counties in the annexure include Homa Bay, Kisii, Nandi, Baringo, Kakamega and Makueni. As indicated earlier, each year, Parliament, in its wisdom, allocates resources to various projects across the country. The tenders for those projects are subsequently advertised by the three road agencies, including KeRRA. A large portion of the projects is implemented by KeRRA. Therefore, conducting public participation on these projects without the benefit of their background can easily mislead the public to think that some of the projects are being funded afresh when in reality Parliament, in its wisdom, is using the budget process to add resources to address inequality. As I said earlier, there is no better institution that can understand the origin of these projects than the National Assembly itself. There are no greater public officers to explain the wisdom behind the allocations than the Members of this august House. In summary, the notice published on 29th September, 2023 by KeRRA was not a budget or an instrument of allocating resources. Instead of KeRRA waiting until other approved projects across the country were ready to commence procurement thus delaying those which were ready, KeRRA moved this batch towards procurement in the expectation that subsequent batches would follow. As a matter of fact, the notice was followed by subsequent notices and others will still follow. I believe that by moving with speed on procurement matters at all times, KeRRA is fulfilling its mandate and meeting the expectation of this House. Hon. Speaker, the final part of the response is in relation to the question about the factors influencing allocation of funds to projects. It is seen in this response to Part One above that the initial budget allocation proposal for Development Vote are generated by agencies of the Ministry, considering the following, which I repeat for purposes of clarity: completion of the ongoing projects, availability of fiscal space for new projects, Government policies and strategic direction concerning infrastructure development taken together with technical and economic feasibility, equity and regional balance. The initial budget proposal is then subjected 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"
}