Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 449174,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/449174/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 116,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. J.K. Chege",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2129,
        "legal_name": "John Kiragu Chege",
        "slug": "john-kiragu-chege"
    },
    "content": "but I would like to say that the Standard Gauge Railway which has a width of 1,435 milimetres is much wider than the current railway of 1,000 milimetres that is currently being operated in Kenya. The advantage to that railway system is that it opens this country to acquiring standard equipment like locomotives, wagons and coaches which are much cheaper than the ones that we are able to source for the one meter gauge. We have issues that are of concern to that railway. One is the connectivity to Mombasa Island, Kilindini and to Nairobi. I believe that once the independent consultant is appointed, and this is urgent since the contractor has already been dispatched to site, that they must address these issues: They must review the designs. They must put in place procedures for quality to make sure that Kenyans get value for their money. It is important to note though, that over the years, Kenyans have been able to operate a railway system and even as the Standard Gauge Railway comes, we hope that the people who have been trained in railway engineering and maintenance – who must be Kenyans and who had to be laid off when the other railway was given away to foreigners - can be called back to help train younger people to support that new project. That project is going to create employment to our people. It is going to open up opportunities for industrialization and it is my believe that, that project will change the face of Kenya in terms of transportation and industrial development. It is going to open this country to neighbours. I would like to pay tribute to many of our people who are of Indian origin and Kenyans who, for hundred years, have enabled this country to run a railway system. I support the Report."
}