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"id": 382444,
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"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, we still have problems of insecurity, more so, on inter-state roads. For example, you will find that the roads on the Tanzanian and Ugandan sides are not very well done, because of the fear that tourists from Kenya would find it very easy to crossover to their territory. So, it is also important, as we debate this Motion, to think about how we can harness the wealth and understanding of our neighbours, so that we can also connect with them easily through a good transport network. We will have very many problems with our neighbours, especially when the roads are not very well maintained. So, in this case, I would also find out from the Mover whether it is possible to include this in the Motion. Madam Temporary Speaker, even after we have developed the roads, railways and ports, it is important to note that construction of some of these roads is not difficult at all. It is just a matter of apathy which is there, particularly from the Government. Recently I travelled from Nyahururu all the way to Maralal and found that the road there is pathetic. If someone is sick and traveling to Nairobi, by the time he gets to Nairobi, he will be dead because the road is bad. Why do we not even make use of the local construction materials which are available in such areas? We have good murram and stones. We even have young men who are unemployed who can be engaged in such constructions. It is very possible to construct roads without even spending a lot of money. Madam Temporary Speaker, when good roads are constructed and they turn to be superhighways, like the one that we have to Thika, we will also have problems of motorists driving junks on them. Such vehicles cause delays on the roads. When the Southern Bypass was constructed from the airport to Ruiru, it was supposed to ease the traffic jam that was related to the airport. But today, even moving on that road is a problem. This is because there are very many vehicles and a lot of traffic jam. That is something that has developed. So, we need also to be careful as we plan. Madam Temporary Speaker, as we plan, it is also important to get to know what happens in cities, like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret. There should be a lane which can be marked red, green or blue, which is reserved for emergencies only. That is for the RRU where if there is an emergency and somebody is being transported form Nyeri or Thika, it will be possible to reach referral hospitals like Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), using ambulances. At the moment, it is almost impossible for anybody to be rescued in Nairobi because of the traffic jams. But with proper planning, it is possible to have one lane that is reserved for the police vehicles, fire brigades or emergencies only. If anybody is found driving on that lane, that person should be arrested by the police, because that lane can save a life. Therefore, we need proper planning much as we talk about infrastructure. Madam Temporary Speaker, we also need to have express roads to some important areas like the airports. For example, it would take a longer time to travel from the City of Nairobi to the airport than it would take somebody who is flying from Cape Town to Nairobi, because of the traffic jams. So, we are calling upon the Mover to include some of these ideas through an amendment. If there is anything to be paid for these services, we can introduce what is called express tolls, for example, in Mariakani, instead of letting the vehicles stay for that long before they are allowed to move to the inland ports. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}