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"id": 707226,
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"content": "Today, you will find that a Senator is not responsible for any road anywhere in a county. The governor will claim that the road is in his county or docket and any repair, even if it is one lorry of murram, will be dedicated to the governor. If it is a road passing through a constituency and is supposed to be maintained by the governor, the MP will also claim responsibility for that road. However, that is when it comes to payment of money, but not improvement. In the end, the roads are left without being improved. In fact, the MCA will claim that it is not his responsibility. The governor will say the same, but when it comes to national Government improvement of this the same road, everybody will claim responsibility and credit that they are in charge of those roads. This classification is wonderful and people should be made to know that a certain road classification belongs to the MCA or the governor up to the national classification where the roads belong to the national Government, the Senator is supposed to be responsible. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, are we able to oversight what is in the counties? We cannot do so because we do not have the necessary funds. We cannot, therefore, even tell the people the difference between a path and a feeder road or a C road and an A road. Because of that we are losing a lot of money through embezzlement. The governor could claim to be in charge of a ‘C’ road, yet roads classified ‘C’ and above are national. A governor may also claim that he is responsible for maintaining a road that is supposed to be maintained by a ward representative. The effect will be cases of double payment or overpayment when it comes to the construction of some roads. To check on such incidents, roads should be cleared labelled, for example, “A Road, National – Senator is responsible.” It is the mandate of the national Government to look for contractors, whenever there is road construction. However, we now have some crafty engineers who have registered companies. They go round and obtain tenders to construct roads in the counties. Since they have connections, they know the roads whose tenders will be floated. There is a vicious circle of corruption. The measures that have been raised in the Motion can minimise corruption on road improvement. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there are specified areas that need good roads. For example, we have roads that lead to tea estates, which is a perishable commodity. The tea leaves needs to reach the factory within the shortest time possible. That can only happen if the roads are well done. Therefore, we should give priority to areas that grow tea, coffee and flowers. There are areas which do not have good roads yet they produce a lot of goods. The inter-territorial roads like the one linking Kenya and Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania should be maintained by the Government for other purposes apart from commercial purposes. There are cases where a road is constructed and certified as completed, and after a month you will see potholes on it. The Ministry will not attend to that road until there is another construction works to be done. That is extravagance and misuse of funds. If there is a pothole, it should be filled within one season, like what happens in developed countries. During winter, it is a known fact that roads will be covered by ice. During the following season, all the cracks that will have developed are sealed. That will ensure perfect maintenance of the road. In this country you have to wait until the tender is awarded. The tendering process may take one year before it is approved. Before it is 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"
}