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{
    "id": 294661,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/294661/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 324,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Gaichuhie",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 17,
        "legal_name": "Nelson Ributhi Gaichuhie",
        "slug": "nelson-gaichuhie"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Bill but I also want to say that we really need to do an overhaul of the whole Traffic Act. So, since the Minister is here, I would urge him to bring amendments to overhaul the whole Traffic Act. First, I want to say that in most developed countries priority is given to Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) but when you look at this Bill, it is like having deterrent measures to PSVs. PSVs are used by majority of Kenyans because most of them do not own cars but when you go to the roads they are the most penalised vehicles. When you see policemen on the roads, they never stop private vehicles. We drive private vehicles along the highways but they only erect roadblocks to stop PSVs. I wish the hon. Member who brought the amendments would have considered the PSVs where we should have a special lane for them. When he talks of motorbikes, they should also incorporate that when somebody is buying a motorbike they should provide two helmets and two reflector jackets before a motorbike is sold so that the buyers of motorbikes should be able to comply with the rules. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the fines that are imposed by the Government should be consistent. You find today the fine is Kshs1, 000 and the following day it is Kshs3, 000. So, people do not know how much one is supposed to pay when he is arrested because of over speeding or overtaking on the wrong lane. We should have a complete overhaul of the Traffic Act or maybe even delay this Bill so that we bring in more amendments to see to it that everything is streamlined. I think the best person who is suited to bring the amendments is the Minister who should incorporate all the stakeholders. He should have a meeting with them and make sure that we overhaul the Traffic Act to be in line with the current situation because I think this Act was enacted when we had very few vehicles on our roads here in Kenya before these superhighways were built. Since we have superhighways we have many vehicles. So many things have changed and we should have that Bill overhauled. We should also incorporate all the stakeholders before such amendments are brought. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, roadblocks should only be erected when we have emergencies and not for stopping PSVs, hence delaying travelers. On the Nakuru- Nairobi highway, we normally have roadblocks erected by the Motor Vehicle Inspection Unit and they make sure that everybody alights including school going children because maybe a bus does not have reflectors. They delay school going children who are on a trip. They inspect vehicles and remove number plates. It is really inconsistent and you will never know when they will undertake a motor vehicle inspection. The Motor Vehicle Inspection Department should also be overhauled. We should have all motor vehicles inspected and not only PSVs. We should change habits of our drivers and conductors. Whenever there is an inspection it only applies to PSVs. So, you will find all the PSVs grounded on that particular day and yet they are the ones that transport people throughout the country. In some cases you will find the drivers using other routes which are not motorable, thus inconveniencing the passengers. So, I wish that the Minister for Transport who has just come in could overhaul the Traffic Act in totality. With those few remarks, I want to say that the Minister should overhaul the whole Traffic Act."
}