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{
    "id": 418304,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/418304/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 209,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kagwe",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 229,
        "legal_name": "Mutahi Kagwe",
        "slug": "mutahi-kagwe"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this report and concur with quite a bit of what we have heard from distinguished Senators. Having done so, I would like to raise a couple of things that the House and the Committee can help in thinking about. When we visit the institutions that we do, as Committees of the Senate, one presumes that there is an exchange of views in two ways. First, we learn something from the Committees’ visits so that we stay informed about what they are doing and the plans that each institution or organization has. Secondly, we should impute some knowledge and make suggestions to those Committees about their operations and how we feel with regard to how they can improve the lives of Kenyans and their efficiency. I want to start by congratulating the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) because they have done quite a good job in spite of limited resources, from what we can see in this report. Recently, they opened a new shed, shed No.19. Shed 19 is one of the most modern that we have in the East African coastline. Not only is it on land that has been reclaimed from the sea, as it were---- I do not believe that there is another port on the East Africa coastline that reclaimed land to build a new port. I want to congratulate the KPA for the modern way of thinking. I also want to urge that some of the issues that were raised here, particularly by Sen. Boy Juma Boy, regarding the matter of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) be extended in a manner that the people in the coast are aware, with regard to what KPA is doing for them, particularly with regard to institutions that they are helping to build. The training institutions that they are helping to build at the coast line like the Bahari Training Institute and other institutions that they are supporting should be publicized so that they are not accused of not having done anything. Having said that, it is of no point if KPA on its own, became efficient while the road and railway networks are not efficient. If these were efficient, goods and services would move very quickly from the port. However, once they are cleared at the Kilindini Harbour, there would be clogging all the way. We have heard how, Busia, for example, is severely clogged. I spent four hours driving to Mombasa from Mazeras because of the trucks on the road. Unless and until we have an efficient railway transport system, those trucks will continue to give us hell, not only on Mombasa Road, but even here in Nairobi. At times, they are lined up all the way from Westlands towards Mlolongo. We are saying that the KPA, on its own, cannot improve the system. We ought to have a system that we can use to improve the entire transport system in the country. In the short term, it is possible for the road network, at least, around Mazeras to have a short bypass so that trucks are cleared without necessarily following each other on that route. This is extremely expensive for motorist and for the truckers themselves. The KPA - this is new thinking - should also think about how it will capture the imagination of people at the coast in terms of new areas of expertise. There is nothing to stop the KPA from diversifying their operations and starting a tourism firm for themselves. They should start ocean liners that can take people around the East African 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."
}