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{
    "id": 294672,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/294672/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 335,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Hassan",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 398,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Hassan Abdi",
        "slug": "yusuf-hassan-abdi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Bill given the fact that the situation on our roads is in a crisis that needs to be addressed with the urgency and importance it deserves. First of all, I would like to speak on driving. Many of our drivers are reckless and dangerous and there is need for a major change in the way we issue driving licences. I came back home after many years of living in other countries and I am totally shocked by the complete lack of any rules and regulations on our roads. Many of the drivers simply do not know or respect the rules of the road. They can come from a village in any part of our country; the next day they buy a driving licence and on the second or third day, they are on our roads. This is a very dangerous situation that needs to be addressed. I think Nairobi is the only City in the world where the traffic light “red” means “go” and the “green light” means “stop”. I have never been to any other city where the rules of traffic are so confused that you do not know whether “red light” means “go” or “stop.” The other element is the large number of people I see driving on the shoulders of the road, for example, Thika Highway. You will see a huge truck driving on the fast lane, stopping all the other traffic or even putting the lives of other drivers at risk and no police officer takes any action. Or, you will find someone driving on the wrong side of the road at top speed. Even this morning on Thika Highway as I was coming here, there was someone driving on the wrong side of the road putting everyone else’s life at risk. So, we really need to take action now rather than later. The other element is etiquette and the complete lack of respect for other road users which is quite common. Our roads may be bad and we may have potholes but there is really no reason to behave in the way we behave. There is something that needs to change about how the Kenyan man or woman drives on our roads and how the Kenyan authorities manage and control traffic and road use in our country. The other element that needs to be addressed is the condition of vehicles on our roads. I see many vehicles that are not roadworthy and are very dangerous. In fact, they are moving coffins. These vehicles should not be on our roads and action should be taken by the Ministry of Transport to ensure that vehicles that are old and defective and have not passed the test should not be on our roads. Another element of concern is the impunity. Many of these drivers do what they do because they know they can get away with it; the matatu culture in our country which is similar to the matatu politics of our country. These people do not respect and fear any rules. They also do not care. Their driving is risky and they put everybody else’s life in danger. These drivers also cause the many road accidents that we witness on our roads every day. The other element of concern is corruption. I have a feeling that the reason many road users, who misbehave, are reckless and dangerous, feel that they can get away with it is because of the level of corruption that exists among some elements of our traffic police. I know many of our traffic police officers are doing a wonderful job, but there are many rotten apples among them. These are the ones who take bribes and spoil the good name of our police force. They need to be punished and taken off the roads. Finally, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other day I was driving on a brand new road in Kiambu, between Kiambu and Limuru. There was not a single sign on that road. We have many tourists and visitors who come to our country; you will have no idea whether you are driving east or west. Every road sign has disappeared. This is one of the reasons I think recently the Ministry of Finance introduced penalties against scrap metal dealers. We really need to take more severe action. We need to punish scrap metal dealers more severely to ensure that they do not buy road signs and ensure road signs are on our roads for safety and the security for every road user. With those few comments, I support this Bill."
}