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{
"id": 228158,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/228158/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mwakwere",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Transport",
"speaker": {
"id": 189,
"legal_name": "Chirau Ali Mwakwere",
"slug": "chirau-mwakwere"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to make a Ministerial Statement in response to a point of order that was raised by Mr. Boit on 22nd March, 2007. Just to refresh my colleagues' memory, Mr. Boit sought a Ministerial Statement from the Minister for Transport. He observed:- \"Of late we have had innocent wananchi losing their lives on our roads but we have not heard any Cabinet Minister apologise for those deaths. Mr. Speaker, Sir, could we be told why deaths have increased on our roads? Is it because of un-roadworthy vehicles or bad roads? Is it because of reckless driving? I would like to know what the Minister has to say about this development. Of late, even matatus are being controlled by a gang called \" Mungiki \". What is the Government doing about this issue? Where is the Minister concerned? Is he sleeping?\" This is a very serious issue because before I go to the core part of the question, we need to be at the same level of knowledge. I am saying this because there is misinterpretation, misunderstanding that have, indeed, given rise to comments that in some cases, are totally uncalled for. Mr. Speaker, Sir, first and foremost, I will surprise you that I am not responsible for the carnage on the roads on a day-to-day basis. I am responsible when it comes to regulations relating to the usage of our roads. Maybe, that is a little bit confusing. However, allow me to say a few words that will bring us to the same level. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Transport has four key roles to play which have five key responsibilities. This Ministry is in charge of sea, air and land transport which is in two categories; rail and road transport. It is also in charge of the Meteorological Department which could actually fall under any Ministry. It could be under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Regional Development or even the Office of the President. However, it is conveniently under the Ministry of Transport because we are the main users of the data that is published by the Meteorological Department for our air and sea transport. There would be no flights in and out of the country if there was no reliable meteorological data for the pilots. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I said that we have five key responsibilities under those functions. Under the sea transport, like all other modes of transport, we are responsible for the regulation, infrastructure provision, implementation, enforcement, monitoring and evaluation. Under the sea transport sector, we are responsible for all the regulation; the Acts that relate to maritime transport, the Kenya Ports Authority Act, the Maritime Act, the Merchant Shipping Act, safety at sea, pollution and all that. We are responsible for the those regulations through Parliament and guidance by the Attorney-General. We also provide the necessary infrastructure. For example, we widen the channel, that is, the entrance to the Port of Mombasa, deepen the basin in a process that is called dredging, provide the berths, terminals, cranes and all the prime movers that relate to sea transport. That is as far as infrastructure is concerned. We also assist in implementation, but the role is squarely in the hands of the port users; that is, the shippers, the clearing agents and the owners of goods. April 4, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 385"
}