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{
    "id": 811499,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/811499/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 284,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Our roads are in a pathetic state, especially where I come from. As we all know, right from Independence, there are areas which are more developed than others. Even in developed areas, some roads are not in good conditions. Sometimes there is so much confusion as far as road construction is concerned. When you ask why a particular road is not done, you are told this is a national authority road or a county authority road. So, the citizens are left in between the national and county and neither is able to perform their duties. I believe this Bill will help because it proposes to dissolve the KeNHA, the KeRRA and the KURA, so that we have one system under which we can manage our roads. On that aspect, I want to say that this is the way to go. We cannot afford to have roads that are said to be national roads, but the county cannot intervene in a national road because we are waiting for the national Government to come and handle it. Additionally, the national Government does not intervene in a county road because they are waiting for the county. Yet, the county is starved of money by the national Government and is not able to do all roads. So, I support this Bill to the extent that it comes up with a one system of managing our roads. Madam Temporary Speaker, in one of the clauses, this Bill also introduces an Annual Roads Works Programme. If we had an annual programme of construction and managing our roads in the country, we would not be complaining about the poor state of our roads. What we lack in this country is that we do not even manage those that we have constructed to an extent that a road becomes nonexistent. Therefore, the aspect of introduction of an Annual Roads Works Programme is good if it is maintained annually. We should keep to the “annual maintenance,” “annual construction of new roads” and “annual management of roads.” By so doing, we would do well as far as infrastructure of the roads is concerned. So, I hope it would be implemented annually and that we will have the funds as per the programme. I will not say much about funding because many Senators have already talked about how much funds need to be devolved. I do not know why it is proposed that even when you want to classify a road you have to write to the Cabinet Secretary for approval. Surely, we are talking about devolution. We should devolve the services. These authorities will have the power to look for money, manage and construct roads. Why should they seek authority from the Cabinet Secretary in the national Government to implement their programmes or classify roads? I oppose this because we should empower the counties to be self-sustaining. They should be able to classify the roads. Let us give them the necessary personnel for classification. Let them implement the proper construction of roads programmes without hindrance. Otherwise, if we tie this to the national Government, then we will not be doing what is intended in devolution. Madam Temporary Speaker, I will talk passionately about the compulsory acquisition of land because of what happened when the SGR passed through Masailand. At that time, I remember a delegation of citizens from Kajiado County coming all the way to State House to ask for a renegotiation of the percentage of compensation that was given to them. 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."
}