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{
    "id": 147121,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/147121/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 71,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kenyatta",
    "speaker_title": "The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 168,
        "legal_name": "Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta",
        "slug": "uhuru-kenyatta"
    },
    "content": " Ahsante. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the current clearing system for cargo faces a number of challenges that compromise our country's ability to maximize on the benefits that accrue from international trade. Indeed, documentation procedures are largely manual, resource intensive and very expensive. To position the port to continue playing its strategic role more effectively, in an increasingly competitive environment, there is an urgent need to address these challenges. In this regard, the Government will establish in the course of the year, a single-window port community based system to facilitate faster, efficient and competitive clearance of cargo at the Port of Mombasa. In addition, plans are underway to dredge the Port and make it accessible for bigger ships while the ongoing work for the construction of a second container terminal will be accelerated. Mr. Speaker, Sir, concurrent with the initiative we are taking to improve the efficiency of the Port of Mombasa, we are also attending to the challenges in the rail system. In this regard, the Government of Kenya working jointly with the Government of Uganda has made a decision to construct a new standard gauge railway line from Mombasa to western Kenya and on to Kampala in Uganda. The new railway line will not only reduce the cost of transport but also facilitate faster movement of freight and passengers, thereby enhancing competitiveness and improving the welfare of our people. Mr. Speaker, Sir, considering the construction of a new railway line will significantly reduce the maintenance cost of the northern corridor roads, it indeed makes economic sense to use part of the Roads Maintenance Fund to invest in this railway. In this context, I will in consultation with the Minister for Roads, be proposing an amendment to the Roads Maintenance Levy Act and the Kenya Roads Board Act to make road made for railway development and maintenance eligible for funding. Meanwhile, I have allocated Kshs3 billion to initiate this important project. I expect the Ministries and agencies responsible to expedite the process with a view of commencing construction by the last quarter of this financial year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the development of infrastructure in Nairobi metropolitan area is equally crucial in making Nairobi a competitive service hub. Apart from improving provision of water and security services, we are fast tracking development of a light rail system in Nairobi and its suburbs and construction of bypasses and modern interchanges to solve the current traffic congestion. As a first step and in partnership with an infrastructure development company called Infraco, a private infrastructure develop group comprising of the World Bank, SIDA, DFID, the Governments of Switzerland and Netherlands, we have commenced work towards the upgrade of the Nairobi commuter system serving the heavily populated parts of Nairobi in order to reduce traffic jams and transport related costs currently hurting business as well as the poor urban dwellers."
}