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"id": 205495,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ms. Karua",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 166,
"legal_name": "Martha Wangari Karua",
"slug": "martha-karua"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. 3730 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES September 5, 2007 Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion. I have heard many hon. Members talking about the increase in the number of accidents on our roads. For the record, it is good to clarify who plays what role. It is quite clear to me that after the Ministry of Transport made the rules, the enforcement belonged largely to the police and the law enforcement agencies. The Ministry of Transport, other than licensing, has no means of stopping vehicles on the road to see whether they are observing traffic rules. I would, therefore, call for closer co-operation and co- ordination between the Ministry of Transport and the Police Department to ensure that the so- called Michuki rules are fully enforced. I admire the way our Police Force has firmly dealt with security issues that were threatening to become a major problem. I would urge them to decisively deal with the road carnage, by ensuring that the rules are enforced to the letter. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it does not take much imagination to see that one of the causes of those accidents is over-speeding. It is not even so much on the defects in the vehicles. Those are the vehicles that are supposed to have speed governors. One wonders what the officers on duty normally say after there has been a major accident, which is caused by over-speeding and yet, there are various road-blocks along the road. It is a problem that must be addressed within Government as a matter of urgency. I call upon the Ministry and the Police Department to urgently sit down and look at ways of enforcing the \"Michuki rules\" and reduce road carnage. The same goes for corruption at the weigh-bridges, and many hon. Members have complained about it. Again, that is a question of enforcement. Those are issues that can be discussed on a round table, between the two departments, road users and the transport industry and look for solutions. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to comment on the issue of the concessioning of Kenya Railways. We all know that Nairobi is now totally congested. It is impossible to move, whether it is during rush hour or off-peak hours. All hours in Nairobi are congestion hours. I remember that when the \"Michuki rules\" were enforced for the first time, and the matatu industry had gone on strike, Kenya Railways was then offering transport on the outskirts of Nairobi. One wonders why the Rift Valley Railways (RVR) cannot offer services to the residents of Nairobi, even if they start offering the commuter services in the outskirts. That would lessen the need of so many vehicles coming to town. They should also urgently see which other areas they can provide transport. If the people coming from Mlolongo to work in Nairobi are able to get railway services, we will not have so many vehicles coming into town. The same applies to other areas. If the concessionaire is unable to improve the transport system, especially the railway system, then we do not need them. We also need a policy on transport. When we give concessions, transport is an essential service. Why do we not have a policy of doing it the Kenya Airways style, where the State retained an interest to ensure that it fulfils its mandate to give essential services to the people? Overall, I want to commend the Ministry for the changes it is bringing. Yes, there are areas that we need to strengthen. They have been mentioned by hon. Members. We urge the Ministry to move with speed to strengthen the areas where there are weaknesses, and ensure that not only do we have a transport policy, but we have a modern transport system in this country. I want to commend the Ministry for initiating those steps. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}