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{
    "id": 205441,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/205441/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 167,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Angwenyi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 326,
        "legal_name": "Jimmy Nuru Ondieki Angwenyi",
        "slug": "jimmy-angwenyi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was saying that the Committee compiled a report with recommendations that this Government invests substantially in the Port of Mombasa. It also recommended that the Government invests in the ports of Malindi, Lamu and 3714 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES September 5, 2007 Kisumu. But those reports are just gathering dust in our shelves. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, although the operations at the Port of Mombasa are not up to standards because of lack of facilities and major capital investments, it can be converted--- If we were able to buy one, which manages various ports in the world, I am sure they will invest and turn around that Port. That Port could generate as much revenue as we collect in taxes within two years. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, even with the little operations at the Port of Mombasa, we cannot move out some of the exports and move in some of the imports because of the failure of the railway system. I thought that when we concessioned our railways to Rift Valley Railways (RVR), they were going to start with Mombasa, so that there is no congestion there. They should have started with that, before they could even think of expanding our rail line. They should have moved to Mombasa and cleared off that backlog at the Port. It has now taken almost a year and we cannot see anything arising from that concessioning. I urge the Minister to move with speed. If he liaises with our Ambassador to the UAE, I am sure that, before the end of this year, there will be investments in the Port of Mombasa. We were told that there was somebody who wanted to invest in the Port of Lamu, and construct a railway line to Ethiopia. I do not know whether the Government got scared by some of the issues that were raised by the people who are raising quorums here! The Government should have moved in and embraced that investor. It is a Government that is elected by Kenyans. It should have moved in and made that Port an international one. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on airports, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), for example, was constructed during the reign of the late Mzee Kenyatta. I remember it was done by somebody called Mr. Alfred Nderitu. Almost 30 years have gone by. My son was born at that time. He is now a manager of some port somewhere else in the world. We have not invested enough. JKIA could have been a hub for air travel in East and Central Africa. We can raise a lot of money and create jobs for our people in that kind of operation. But we are not doing that. We get recommendations and nothing is done. Why do we have to construct roads to Kampala?"
}