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{
"id": 1446240,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1446240/?format=api",
"text_counter": 137,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Maanzo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13589,
"legal_name": "Maanzo Daniel Kitonga",
"slug": "maanzo-daniel-kitonga"
},
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to speak on this very important law. The Traffic Act has not been sufficient bearing in mind that it is a very old Act from the colonial days. In the Kibaki Administration, motorcycle transport became very huge. A long time ago, a few individuals owned motorcycles, but now it has become part of public transport system. Therefore, this was a big development. Although there could be some regulations under that Act, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, in his wisdom, decided to come up with this law, which deals with the regulation of the motorcycle transport industry, and even goes on to devolve it. Now that the Senate deals with devolution, that can also be managed at the county level. Mr. Speaker, Sir, many motorcyclists do not have insurance, driving licenses or the gear necessary in case of an accident. Again, when this culture came, it went unregulated. Some even drive on the opposite side of the road. Recently, on my way to Makueni County last week, I saw a very bad motorcycle accident. In fact, a matatu overtook and hit a motorcyclist very badly. I stopped and quickly organised - because this was Machakos County - through the deputy governor, and we were able to get first aid facilities quickly and an ambulance to save his life. You could see the interaction between the normal motorists and motorcyclists has not been well done. We can even come up with pathways to be used by motorcyclists together with the cyclists, which apply in many other countries. The whole idea is to make sure that the people being transported, and motorists are safe. If you go to most accident wards, the people with the most broken limbs and skulls are from motorcycle accidents. The motorcyclist himself does not have insurance cover and, therefore, compensation for such people becomes extremely difficult. This particular regulation also goes on to come up with a board, which will manage and time to time, follow up the activities of motorcyclists. This has also become a very big industry in Kenya. People are assembling and manufacturing parts. In that scenario, I have engaged many young people into employment, even the cyclists themselves. In fact, most of them are university graduates who do this motorcycle transport as they look for better jobs or as they wait for placement in regular businesses or companies. It has also provided big time solutions. Motorcyclists have also been abused during election time. Today, I saw that a politician had sponsored motorcyclists in Nairobi to engage in politics. You could see three to five people loaded on one recklessly driven motorbike and a lot of them following each other. There is every likelihood of an accident. Unless the Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale law regulates this, we are likely to have more trouble; more people injured or maimed, and end up being having a bigger expense. As we support this law, I hope it is going to be received well in the counties. Counties and politicians support motorcyclists a lot especially during campaign time because they are useful. In fact, where someone does not know how to use Google"
}