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"id": 382701,
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, the petitioner claims that despite these undertakings, the concerned Ministries and departments are yet to take action. In particular, in April, 2010, the immediate former President, while addressing a public rally in Mwingi Town, made a commitment on behalf of the national Government that the road will be upgraded. He directed the then Minister for Finance, who is now the current President, to ensure that the funds were made available for the upgrading of the road. One month later in May of the same year, while addressing a public rally in Kitui Town, the former President made a similar undertaking to the people of Kitui County. In October, 2012, again, the former President while at a public rally in Kitui, made a commitment on the upgrading of the road and, further, directed the then Minister for Roads, hon. Franklin Bett, to ensure that action was taken to upgrade the road. Numerous assurances have been made by Treasury to the elected leaders and residents of the county that budgetary provisions will be made for tarmacking of the road. Despite these assurances, the petitioner states that the Treasury has not made any budgetary allocation, so far. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in 2011, the petitioner says that the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese construction company for the upgrading of the road. However, finalization and implementation of the MoU does not appear to have been followed through and remains outstanding. Subsequently, the Treasury has also indicated that they were negotiating for the financing of the upgrading of the road and that works on the road will commence once a loan agreement has been signed. To the best of the petitioner’s knowledge, no agreement was signed and, therefore, work has not commenced. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the petitioner further states that during the Tenth Parliament, the Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing of the National Assembly took up the matter of the upgrading of the road and made inquiries with various Government officials, including making an inspection tour of the road, which was done in August, 2011. The Committee found out that the road was, indeed, in an appalling state and urged the Ministry of Roads to urgently liaise with the Treasury to ensure that the funds were made available for the upgrading of the road. This is yet to happen. The Petitioner states that despite these efforts, assurances and undertakings made over the years, the Kibwezi-Kitui-Mwingi Road has remained in a state of disrepair and has continued to deteriorate further every year. Needless to say, the economic development and tourism potential of Kitui County is unlikely to be realized while the road remains in this state. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the petitioner states that the issues in respect of which this Petition is made are not pending before any court of law, constitutional or legal body. The Petitioner concludes with a prayer to this honorable Senate, through its Standing Committee on Energy, Roads and Transportation, to inquire into the matter of upgrading and tarmacking of the Kitui-Kibwezi-Mwingi Road and establish:- 1. The present state and the condition of the Kibwezi-Kitui-Mwingi Road. 2. The effect of the state of the road on the residents of Kitui County and other affected counties. 3. The economic potential of the road when upgraded on trade and economic development in Kitui County, Kenya and Africa, in general. 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."
}