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{
    "id": 596576,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/596576/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 375,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I say this because, an individual sees traffic queue a mile down and decides to overtake all the cars on the wrong side of the road, as if everybody else who is queuing is an idiot. This is something that should be taken very seriously and individuals like those ought to be punished viciously. Those vehicles ought to be put in a police station for a month because we have to address the issues as they are. There is a saying in my community that in the dark, when an arrow is shot at you, you also shoot another in the direction where that one came from even if you cannot see it. The import of this is that, if indiscipline is caused by a person who wants to earn a lot of money that day, it appears to me that a small fine here or there will not resolve the problem. It also appears to me that the issue is of an individual who will do anything including risking people’s lives while driving like a maniac just so that they get a little bit more money. It is that extra money that we ought to go for when we get them. Madam Temporary Speaker, my view is that the cameras that we install must be used for the purposes of prosecution. Every traffic police station must have cameras installed in it. Legislation must come to bear so that we prosecute people on the basis of digital evidence that is there with us. Only then can we say that we are addressing the issues and creating a good business environment on our roads as well. It is strange that in spite of the heavy traffic jams that are there in our city, I do not hear any policy debates regarding trains. The Mover of the Motion is asking us to consider formulating additional policy interventions. The policy that ought to be highlighted in the respective Ministries and county administration in the county governments is one where we start talking about the use of trains and trams because no matter how many lanes we expand our roads to, as long as the traffic keeps on increasing with individuals putting an additional vehicle on the road, the problem will never be resolved. When Mombasa Road was one lane, the traffic was terrible, when it was expanded to two lanes, the traffic jam did not reduce and even after it was expanded to three lanes, the traffic jam is still terrible. It, therefore, appears that expansion of roads is not the ultimate solution to the movement of persons and goods. We have to have a paradigm shift and think about how other big cities are managed. Addis Ababa in Ethiopia has already started a train system to manage the traffic. We should have done that before Addis Ababa did it. The debate that we should have today is how we are going to have trains that can run from the town centre to Kangemi to Kawangware estates and other parts of our city, so that we can leave cars behind and use the train. It is only then that we can make sure that no four wheeled vehicles are coming into our city en mass and in a manner that we cannot function. The other idea, is also of timing, where we ask our employers to ensure that they can stagger the timing of reportage to the offices, so that people do not have to be at the office at 8.00 a.m. For goodness sake, let our people come at 9.00 a.m., so that every vehicle is not moving into town at 8.00 a.m. Elsewhere, children are not taken to school in one car per child or one car for two children. They are taken to school via buses, not even that, there are particular regions where you can take children. 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."
}