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{
    "id": 320518,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/320518/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 484,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Githae",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Finance",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 159,
        "legal_name": "Robinson Njeru Githae",
        "slug": "robinson-githae"
    },
    "content": " Thank you Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I just want to speak on two issues because I understand we need to finalize the Bill before 6.30 p.m. The first one is on compliance of the law. Yes, it is true that we are increasing and adding new laws. But we need to comply with the existing laws. We need to enforce the existing laws. I will give you one example. It is stated very clearly in the Traffic Act that slow traffic should use the left lane. In fact, on highways they say: “Keep left unless overtaking.” What do we see on our roads? You will find a smoking lorry carrying stones and sand using the right lane. As a result, it slows down traffic. You are now forced to overtake on the left instead of the right and yet, for that, we do not need any new law. It is already there. I would like to request the Minister to enforce that rule. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the other one is on driving under the influence of alcohol. Sometimes, when you speak to people and hear them say: “Oh! Yesterday, I do not even know how I arrived home. Gari yangu inajua nyumbani!” You look at that person and wonder: “What is he saying? He seems to be very proud of it; “that my car found its way home!” Already, we have a rule against driving under the influence of alcohol. Let us enforce that rule and we are going to save lives. We are going to prevent accidents and we are going to enhance our safety record. The other one is on traffic lights, particularly, in the City. The traffic lights we have are outdated and obsolete. I can say that, speaking from experience. When I was the Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development, I offered the Nairobi City Council (NCC), under the former Town Clerk, to install new modern traffic lights. But I did not know I was touching a live wire. At the moment, if you want to change the duration of the traffic lights, you have to go physically to where they are and change the duration. You cannot do it from the office. That is the main problem. In addition, there is a conspiracy where hawkers, in tandem with the City Council officials, want to create traffic jams specifically to sell their wares as you wait for the traffic to move. Again, that is well documented. We need to improve traffic lights. When I was the Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development, I offered to do so, but they refused. Even more, I offered to install street lights on all the roads in Nairobi. What did I get? I got a letter from the Town Clerk himself saying that I am increasing his electricity bill by installing more traffic lights. I was shocked! I thought I was trying to help the citizens of Nairobi, so that they can be able to live in a serene and secure environment."
}