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"id": 205893,
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Wetangula",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 210,
"legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Vote. For as long as we can remember, we have never discussed the Vote of this Ministry in this House. If we did, it must have been a long time ago. This is a very critical Ministry, particulary in terms of policy formulation. It is the Ministry that has to formulate the transport policy, deal with the railways, airports and ports. It is the Ministry upon which other Ministries and agencies of Government have to rely on, for the Government to function efficiently. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in contributing to this Vote, one has to look at what is happening within the sectors and areas under the management of this Ministry. When we talk about the transport policy, one can see, very worryingly, the spectre of accidents creeping back on our roads. It is difficult to tell whether the blame goes to the Ministry, the police or the operators of public transport. But, be that as it may, the Ministry needs to clearly lay down what our transport policy is and should be. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we sanctioned the privatisation of the railway network in the country. A company called Rift Valley Railways (RVR) was given the railways to run. More than a year down the line, we can neither see nor feel the presence of that company. One is left to wonder whether that company was actually up to the job that it was given. If you look at the railway lines, you will still see those old locomotives going at an olympic snail speed. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if Rift Valley Railways (RVR) was a viable and credible investor, how come we do not even see new trucks on the rails? How come a year down the line, we do not see any upgrading of the rail lines? How come a year down the line, the time taken to transport goods from Mombasa to Kampala is getting worse instead of getting better? I think the Ministry should look at this company called RVR and see what they are doing. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have problems of movement of bulk goods. Our roads are dilapidated, destroyed by heavy axle loads and overweight when we have a railway line. I want to urge the Minister and his team to re-look at the issue of the management of our railway lines. I am sure, being a lawyer, that in that agreement, there must be a break clause. If this company cannot take off, bring the agreement here and we look at it and Parliament will sanction the break of that contract and look for somebody more credible. In fact, when Kenya Railways was a public corporation it was doing a much better job than that RVR. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, on our airports, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport September 4, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3659 (JKIA) was built long time ago, but still has only one runway. We all know it is a very busy airport. I know there is an expansion programme going on, but we would want to see it move faster. If for any reason there is a mishap on the runway, then no planes can land or take off at JKIA. We want to see a second or third runway for JKIA and an upgrade of the facilities. If you go to the airport, the transit passengers need comfortable lounges. It is a shame to see travellers sleeping on the corridors that you cannot even walk. Something must be done to improve the airport and boost its image as the international and regional hub in this area. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is another area of focus. We have been told about the intention to build a port at Lamu. It is welcome. However, I am not one of those who agree that we get some young or old rich person from the Middle East and hand over the entire Lamu to him and tell him: \"Build and do what you want with it\". It is not right. First, for the national security, and secondly, even for national pride. I would want a situation where the Ministry of Transport, as a policy formulator, gets an investor from Middle East or wherever, but offloads a portion of the investment into equity for the public to participate. We can offload shares on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). Let everybody, including you and me, and this young man here, Mr. Muturi, buy some shares."
}