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{
    "id": 811464,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/811464/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13156,
        "legal_name": "Mutula Kilonzo Jnr",
        "slug": "mutula-kilonzo-jnr"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to say the following. One, it is a milestone to have the Kenya Roads Bill on the Floor of the Senate. This matter has come a long way. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we received petitions under the Transition to Devolved Government Act, where the Senate was supposed to consider appeals of counties in terms of functions, one of them was the management of roads, other than forests and others. However, the most fundamental one that affected counties was roads. It was a quarrel. The Transition Authority (TA) gave out a timeline as to when these functions should be granted to counties. However, the national Government totally refused to gazette this function on the basis that counties did not have the capacity to do roads. Senators, what is “capacity to do roads?” What is the secret about doing a tarmac road? This matter finally ended up in court, where Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi issued an order to the national Government to gazette these functions for purposes of counties. The Gazette Notice was issued, but it had no framework. As a result, it was like the proverbial saying of giving with the right hand and taking away with the left. Madam Temporary Speaker and hon. Senators, the roads that are under our function are 35,000 kilometres. The purpose of a Bill like this is to ensure that we can do roads in our counties. If there is an issue with capacity; we can build capacity. If the national Government can procure two Cuban doctors for your counties; why should we not hire capacity and buy trucks? I was pleasantly surprised to see Governor Waiguru with so many vehicles and earth movers. This is the infrastructure needed. Madam Temporary Speaker, during debate on the Division of Revenue Bill, we turned a blind eye to something we should not have. We were supposed to get 20 per cent of the revenue to go to counties for the purpose of maintaining roads. However, there were other considerations – maybe political or the “handshake” – and, as a result, counties are still getting fewer funds to maintain these roads. Madam Temporary Speaker, classification of roads is important. As far as I am concerned, classification has, in the past, been done in a skewed manner so that these functionaries sitting in Nairobi can make these roads look like miracles. Let me tell you; the only miracle I see in roads is what the Chinese have done on bridges and overpasses. For the rest, there is no reason why a road in Makueni; the Emali-Ukia Road, which is 52 kilometres, is under KeNHA. There is no reason on earth why the Machakos-Wote Road between Machakos to Ukia, is under KeRRA; and the road between Ukia to Makindu in the same road is under KeNHA. This is the same road, in the same county, where there is no hill or bridge. This classification is just some amorphous thing that does not make sense. We have just created work for these national Government functionaries. I will say that again; we have just created work for these national Government functionaries when we should not have done so. 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."
}