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{
    "id": 663476,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/663476/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 152,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Chanzu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 11,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Kifuma Chanzu",
        "slug": "yusuf-chanzu"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to support this very important Bill. For us to develop as a country or for any nation to develop, it is very important that the country is opened up and has a proper road network. Whether the road is for ordinary use such as social activities or leisure, or whether it is for tourism and tourist activities, it is very important that it is done. As it is stated in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons, several laws have been quoted such as the Public Roads and Roads of Access Act, 1920, Cap. 399, which we are repealing. We are also repealing the Roads Act, 2007, Cap. 408. We are also proposing to amend the Kenya Roads Act, 1999, Cap. 408A. When this matter was brought up during the drafting of the Constitution, it was assumed that the issue would be straightforward. However, it has not turned out to be so because the Constitution brought up the two levels of Government which created a lot of confusion. This Bill will clarify the confusion that has been there. If you look at the reports of the Controller of Budget, from the 2013/2014 Financial Year up to now, and the reports of the Auditor-General, you will find that there has been a lot of misuse of funds with regard to the county governments and constituencies. I have seen cases in my constituency in Vihiga where you would use road funds provided by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to construct a road and then the county government would do the same. The motive was not to construct the road but to engage in a cover-up. This has caused many problems. In fact, it went to the extent of some governors going to court to stop KeRRA from performing its functions. Vihiga County happened to be one of these counties. The roads are in a pathetic situation. That is the reason why the clarification that this Bill will bring on board is going to be useful. If there is not going to be compliance by county governments in differentiating between what they are supposed to do and what the national Government should do, there should be serious penalties for that. There is defiance mostly because of corruption. You will find that for a small road passing through a village, which could have been constructed through manual labour, someone brings a grader to construct it. Such a road ends up costing between Kshs5 million and Kshs10 million when it could have cost less than Kshs1 million, if you used manual labour. In any case, the purpose of devolution or taking resources down to the people is so that they can benefit from those resources. People do not benefit if you take a grader to construct a small road in the village and spend that amount of money because we are not creating employment. I have been here for some time and we have put in place many laws but implementing them or enforcing them is the critical part. If you look at the Budget that was read by the Cabinet Secretary last week, you will find that the roads sector is consuming a lot of money. The main purpose is so, so that we can open up the country and make it comfortable for people to move. The Southern Bypass connects Mombasa Road to Lang’ata. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was asked to allow the road to be expanded on that side but if you go there you will find that it is a totally different place because of the construction. However, that has taken a long time, from 2004 to 2005, because of confusion due to lack of agreement. With this law in place, we should be able to open up many places. 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."
}