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{
    "id": 1334249,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1334249/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "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": "The KURA is not fairing any better. Whereas the mandate of KURA is to maintain roads classified as urban national roads, in practice, KURA has had to intervene massively in cities, major towns and county headquarters across the country. The KURA is suffering from lack of resources to discharge its mandate. However, the most alarming situation is rural roads. The KeRRA does not have a robust mechanism to secure funds for any kind of regular maintenance of paved rural roads, let alone performance-based maintenance. The sad truth is that the paved roads under KeRRA are orphans in the financial sense. As a matter of fact, Members of Parliament, through the constituency roads committees, are opposed to any attempt to allocate any money under 22 per cent or 10 per cent on maintenance of tarmac roads. Therefore, it is true to say that this is a catastrophe in waiting. No wonder many Kenyans are complaining of potholes in many rural roads across the country, especially the low-volume seal roads. The implications of non-availability of funds for maintenance of rural roads are clear. If a solution is not found for rural roads, the recently paved rural roads will deteriorate rapidly. Both the Ministry and the distinguished Members of this House will face difficult questions from the public, to which we will not have immediate answers. A significant portion of rural roads which were upgraded to paved standard were constructed in the expectation that the traffic volumes would be relatively light. In practice, economic activities have promptly picked up as new roads were opened to traffic for specific loading and overloading has caused distress on several pavements. This makes effective maintenance even more urgent and necessary. In this context, the part in the report by the National Dialogue Committee that mentions a reduction of Ksh5 per litre in the Fuel Levy, should give us a pause of reflection concerning the consequence of the road sector. Going forward, we anticipate that the Government will revert to this distinguished House for assistance and support concerning securing adequate funds for the maintenance of the various classes of national roads. Hon. Speaker, please, allow me three minutes for me to conclude. I only need three minutes to conclude and then I will get the necessary guidance from this House."
}