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"content": "of the road rehabilitation and construction programme and a number of key projects in the roads sector have been completed. We will also step up road transport safety and regulation that is aimed at developing and implementing road transport policies for an efficient, effective, safe and decongested transport system. Some of the major ongoing projects include the Northern Corridor Transport Improvement Project (NCTIP), decongestion and improvement of the roads in cities and urban areas, rehabilitation of access roads and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) project. The Government will continue to enhance road network connectivity across the country with the aim of enhancing trade, commerce, agricultural productivity and regional trade. To this effect, the Government has earmarked for construction 3,800 kilometres of low volume seal roads across the length and breadth of the country to open up rural areas and farm- lands. To decongest the major urban areas, the Government will continue with the expansion of major roads. Currently, dualling of the Outering Road in Nairobi is progressing well. The dualling of Ngong Road to Adams Arcade has started and is expected to be completed in the next two years. Further, the Government, in partnership with the Nairobi City County will fast-track the realization of the Nairobi Metropolitan Mass Rapid Transport System and implementation of the Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority Bill. The construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Mombasa to Nairobi has progressed well and is now over 80 per cent complete. It is expected to be launched by June 2017 by His Excellency the President. This rail will significantly reduce the cost of transport, facilitate faster and cheaper movement of freight and passengers and enhance competitiveness of the economy, thereby positioning Kenya as a regional business hub. In this Budget, I have further allocated Kshs154.4 billion for the SGR, of which Kshs118.2 billion is externally financed from China and Kshs36.2 billion is contribution by the Government of Kenya (GOK). Regarding Phase II of the SGR that will run from Nairobi to Naivasha, we have already concluded discussions on funding and we expect construction to start in the 2016/2017 Financial Year. With the completion of the new rail, there will be developments of industrial parks along the SGR line at Ndogo Kundu in Mombasa, Voi, Mtito Andei, Nairobi and Naivasha, which will help boost our manufacturing sector and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and help create jobs for our youth. The Government has made good progress with regard to the reforms and modernization of the Port of Mombasa, especially in expansion of container terminals. This, together with the ongoing integration of the Single Window System and other related systems, will facilitate faster, efficient and competitive clearance of cargo, positioning the Port of Mombasa as the preferred hub in Eastern and Central Africa. With regard to air transport, the screening yard and security toll gate at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been completed, while rehabilitation work at the five airstrips in Nanyuki, Ikanga, Lodwar, Embu and Malindi and expansion and modernization of Isiolo and Kisumu airports are ongoing. Going forward, we will scale up the ongoing airports expansion and modernization, commission the new Terminal 1E and commence work on the second runway at JKIA, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. We also plan to commence the expansion of the Eldoret International Airport to enable large cargo planes to land and position it as a transport hub. To realise some of the interventions that I have highlighted above, I have allocated, including external financing, a total of Kshs117.6 billion and Kshs30 billion for low volume seal roads. Of this, Kshs23.8 billion will be through the normal The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}