HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1571003,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571003/?format=api",
"text_counter": 175,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Nyandarua County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Faith Gitau",
"speaker": null,
"content": "challenges, including traffic congestion during peak periods which limits movement of people, goods and services across regions and increases vulnerability to road accidents; further concerned that the lack of foot bridges and safe pedestrian crossing areas on these high-traffic roads has been a leading contributor to the surge in road accidents in the recent past; cognisant of the duty of the Government to provide a reliable transport system for efficient traffic management, economic development and bolstering interconnectivity among all regions in the country and beyond; now therefore, this House resolves that the Government, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport, undertake an expansion programme of national trunk roads with a view of upgrading all Classes A, B and C roads in the country from two-way lanes to dual carriageway, one- way roads with the necessary infrastructure that include foot bridges, safe crossing zones at regular intervals, proper drainage systems and other requisite infrastructure for their optimal operation. The efficient functioning of a country’s economy depends largely on the adequacy and efficiency of its transport system. An efficient transportation network plays a significant role in accessing public facilities, both in rural and urban areas of the country. The main purpose of effective transportation, especially in urban areas, is to meet the demand for passenger and freight movement. One fundamental fact is that transportation is an indispensable component of the economy, playing a pivotal role in connecting cities and driving growth. Our country faces significant challenges in road safety, traffic congestion and urban infrastructure particularly along major highways. In recent times, road accidents have become alarmingly common, often resulting in the loss of lives. Recent statistics regarding road accidents from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) paints a very grim picture. Between 1st January and 30th March 2024, 7,198 Kenyans were involved in road accidents. Tragically, 1,189 persons lost their lives while 3,316 were seriously injured. Most alarmingly, pedestrians accounted for the highest fatalities. These figures underscore the critical need for the Ministry of Roads and Transport to undertake decisive action to ensure road safety. The rapid growth of our population has exacerbated these issues, leading to increased traffic volumes and severe congestion in major cities. To address these challenges, we must implement targeted road-engineering solutions, particularly the expansion of major roads into dual carriageways. Additionally, we need to implement sophisticated movement control measures such as traffic lights, pedestrian crossing, warning signs and road markings. These measures will not only ensure road safety but also provide a platform for economic growth and development by easing movement of goods and the people. The Fourth Schedule to our Constitution clearly lays out the distribution of functions between the national Government and county governments. Part 1, paragraph 18 assigns the national Government the responsibility for road traffic and the construction and operation of national trunk roads. Furthermore, the Kenya Roads Act, 2007 established the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) responsible for the development, rehabilitation, management and maintenance of all national trunk roads. This includes Classes A, B and C roads linking centres of international and national importance. A detailed review of collision data from KeNHA’s Black Spot Management Report 2018, covering 2011 to 2016, ranked the top 30 high-crash locations on roads under their mandate. Each of these locations recorded at least five collisions in a calendar year highlighting the urgent need for intervention. The rising cases of grisly accidents on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway are largely due to the road’s design. This highway should be fully upgraded to a dual carriageway to reduce the carnage we have witnessed due to high traffic flow. The section from Rironi to Naivasha to Nakuru is prone to serious traffic jams especially during major holidays. Similarly, the Nairobi- Mombasa Highway should be converted to a dual carriageway to address increasing traffic 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."
}