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{
    "id": 510119,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/510119/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 144,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Lati",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2762,
        "legal_name": "Jonathan Lelelit Lati",
        "slug": "jonathan-lelelit-lati"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, just yesterday, incidentally with the sponsor of the Bill, we were walking from Continental House towards Parliament and crossing the notorious road between Parliament and Continental House. About three motorbikes were being driven on the opposite direction towards Uhuru Highway. We were almost overrun by those motorbikes yesterday and hon. Lekuton is sitting here sponsoring a Traffic Bill today. The most unfortunate thing is that those motorbikes were going in the opposite direction when not less than six policemen were at the gate of Parliament and they never bothered. It tells you how notorious traffic rules have been flouted in our country, and I think this Bill is timely. I hope other Members in this House will take initiative to come up with other Bills that will regulate traffic in the country. That is because I think traffic is one thing that we have messed up as a country. For those of us who have travelled for two or three days out of this country, one thing that you will see glaring at you is the difference in traffic management outside Kenya as compared to our own country. We have done very well in other aspects of life and I am just surprised why Kenyans are so notorious in flouting traffic rules. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, in my opinion, 30 kilometres per hour is even too fast. But this is a good start by the hon. Member. It also includes things like roads, signs and bumps; which are commendable. In countries like Australia, any approach to a school bus stop, leave alone a school, you have to slow to 40 kilometres per hour. In fact, in New Zealand, it is 20 kilometres an hour. Therefore, we are somewhere in between. It is important to know that this is around schools. We know that there are many children who walk across roads near schools. Thirty kilometres is a good start, but I think we need to do more. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other thing that this Bill is trying to establish penalties for traffic offences. Penalties for exceeding speed limits range between Kshs10,000 to Kshs25,000 in fines. This is very small and people should know that you are risking lives when you drive too fast near facilities, especially where children are. A fine of Kshs10,000 is too small, but it is a good start. Finally, the other aspect that this Bill will establish is the safety of children in school buses. It is not just enough to make sure that the outside environment is safe for children when they cross roads. We are also required to make sure that buses that ferry school children have all the safety requirements for children. They must have door locks and windows are locked so that they cannot jump out. Children are different and they think in different ways. But also there must be seatbelts and drivers must be people of integrity; they should not be drunkards and people who do bad things in those buses. With those few remarks, I support."
}