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"speaker_name": "Mr. Ligale",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important Motion. First, I want to congratulate the Minister for the way he presented the Estimates and the way they are attempting to bring sanity in the transport sector. This is a very vital area of our economy in this country. If we do not have an efficient transport system, we cannot develop the country. We need an efficient and integrated transport system in this country. I know that over the last four or five years, the Minister has been attempting to develop an integrated transport system and have it in place. But to date, we have not gone beyond talking about it and tabling papers in boardrooms. We want now to move from that situation into the actual implementation of that integrated transport system because it is critical. If you look at the road network at the moment--- I know that this Ministry's responsibility is the use of the roads that have been constructed by the Ministry of Roads and Public Works. But, currently, because of the dilapidated nature of our road September 4, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3657 network, some of the policies that this Ministry wants to put in place are really brought to naught. Some of the worst accidents that we have had in the recent past are partly as a result of people trying to avoid the many potholes, crevices and cracks on our road system. There must be a way in which these two Ministries can work together to try and repair those roads so that, anybody who uses them, whether they are in big trucks such as the tankers that have recently caused panic in Kisii Town and Nyamninia in Siaya District, could be safe. I am not saying that the accidents were caused by people trying to avoid potholes or cracks, but currently, anybody using our roads is really hard-pressed. That is because they are in a very bad state. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, be that as it may, discipline on our roads is still very bad. In fact, if anything, it has receded. Two or three years ago, there was a bit of semblance of discipline and road carnage actually came down substantially. We are back to those bad days. The Minister and his staff must re-double their efforts, even as we try to get some of those repairs done. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the traffic congestion that we have in our major towns, particulary Nairobi, is partly because of the bad habits of the drivers on our roads. Even as we attempt to bring into being a rapid transport system in the City of Nairobi--- That is a long-term solution. In the short-term, I am sure, with prudent management--- A road is a resource. One must look at it as a resource which must be managed properly. If it is not used properly, we will find a lot of congestion. Currently, many people in Nairobi are spending many man hours on our roads. All you need is a little rain at about 5.00 p.m., when people are leaving their work places going to their homes. It will take you up to three or four hours to travel from the City Centre to Eastlands, because of traffic congestion. We need to manage that system in a more efficient manner. Perhaps, we have come to a stage when we might have to stagger our working hours. We may have to look at the possibility of ensuring that our kids are ferried to schools by public transport. One problem that we have in this City is the fact that, parents, particularly when schools are going on, ply from one part of the town to the other dropping children in schools. Then, they have to drive back to their places of work. Sometimes, they have to drive their spouses to their places of work and then go back to their places of work. If we had a more efficient public transport system, our people would not need to drive their cars all the time. We should look at the public transport system and make it more efficient. When you look at the Kenya Bus Services (KBS) vehicles, you will imagine that they are managed by the KBS company. In fact, those are matatus owned by individuals. All they are using is a management company. We do not have buses owned by the KBS. They are all individual buses. They are only being managed by a management company. No wonder, we have a lot of problems with them on a daily basis. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on our airports, I am glad they are doing something at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). I hope that, that rehabilitation and expansion will be completed in the near future. Currently, because of the terrible road to western Kenya, many of us are flying to Kisumu. You and I know what happens at that little airport terminal at Kisumu. You want to be there at 8.00 a.m. in the morning, but you can hardly find a space to make a booking. There are too many of us there. The whole place is over-congested. We are not too sure whether the plane will take off or land safely. Could the Minister fast-track the repair and expansion of Kisumu Airport? It is critical. That part of the country is very important. We need that airport upgraded as soon as possible. I am glad they are doing something about Wajir Airport. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Wilson Airport is in trouble in terms of security. That is one facility that is very insecure. People are landing from Bunia in Congo, and we have no idea where they are coming from. They just come and land there. We do not even have a fence around the airport. That airport needs to be upgraded and its security enhanced. 3658 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES September 4, 2007 Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, currently, we are losing a lot of revenue at the Port of Mombasa. That is because the larger vessels are not able to go in because of the shallowness of the creek. We have talked about dredging the Port of Mombasa for a long time. Why is it taking so long? I know it takes a lot of money. But that is a business that we can do through a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) system. We do not need to have the money in our own kitty to do it. We want the Port of Mombasa to be competitive. Currently, Dar-es-Salaam is even doing better business than us. We need to dredge that facility as soon as possible. I am glad that, at long last, we are doing something about a second corridor in Lamu. I do not agree with my brother here who said that we ought to bring that matter on the Floor of the House before we negotiate. Let the Minister negotiate, put in place the funding and the actual feasibility. Once it is ready and we are about to implement, he should bring it to the Floor of the House as a Sessional Paper. We want to own that project. It is very important. If we cannot open up those parts of our country, which are currently virtually ignored, we will not be able to get there. I am glad that efforts are being made to that effect. I encourage the Minister to finalise those negotiations with the possible investor, so that, that project could be implemented as soon as possible. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those comments, I fully support this Motion."
}