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{
    "id": 1457972,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1457972/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ndia, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Kariuki",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, on 2nd May 2024, the Member for Kigumo, Hon. Joseph Munyoro, requested for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the status of Mau Mau Road in Kigumo Constituency. In the Statement Request, the Hon. Member, among other things, sought to establish— 1. The reasons for the prolonged delay in completing the Mau Mau Road in Kigumo Constituency. 2. The plans the Ministry of Roads and Transport has put in place for the resumption and completion of the Mau Mau Road. 3. The mitigation measures the Ministry is undertaking to ensure that the roads within Kigumo Constituency remain passable during the rainy season. 4. When the contractor is expected to resume construction of the Ikumbi-Karinga- Gacharage Road. 5. The long-term measures the Ministry is taking to ensure the safety of residents during the rainy season. Hon. Speaker, the Committee held a meeting with the Ministry of Roads and Transport on 4th June 2024 to receive responses to Statement Requests. After that, the Committee requested for additional information. Therefore, I now respond to the Statement Request. To give a brief background on the matter, the State Department of Roads has a huge budget deficit leading to limited allocation for road projects. The implementation of the 10,000 kilometres roads programme from the Financial Year 2013/2014 led to a huge portfolio of projects not commensurate with the budget ceiling provided by the National Treasury. The rollout of the 10,000 kilometres roads programme entered a full-year cycle in the Financial Year 2017/2018. It was expected that on account of the rollout, the Government of Kenya’s allocation for roads would progress upwards. However, over time, the allocation for roads has stagnated at an average of Ksh55 billion per year from the year 2017/2018 to date. This 10,000 kilometres road programme rollout, in addition to the ongoing road contracts prior to 2013 culminated in an outstanding Government of Kenya portfolio of Ksh900 billion as at 31st July 2022. The huge outstanding portfolio in relation to the Government of Kenya ceiling provided has resulted in minimal allocation to the projects. The Government has made efforts to reduce this portfolio in an effort to ensure reasonable and material allocations to road projects. As at 30th June 2024, the outstanding Government of Kenya portfolio made up of contracted but undone works amounted to Ksh700 billion. Despite the reduction, the Ksh700 billion portfolio far outstrips the Ksh55 billion ceiling annual budget. The limited allocation vis-à-vis the outstanding project portfolio results in thinly spread allocations for projects. Most of the projects that the current Government is implementing were awarded prior to the Financial Year 2020/2021. This spread of the GoK ceiling means that the road takes longer to complete. It becomes more expensive due to the passage of time and attracts interest and other claims."
}