Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 813032,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813032/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 31,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "them are new classifications properly described within this Bill. The whole idea is to unbundle the sector so that we have the roads managed better. There are authorities which are currently in place, which are three, together with the Kenya Roads Board (KRB). The KRB tries to manage the funds which are raised under the Fuel Levy Fund. Fuel levy funds are levied to fuel users at source. In fact, that is the money which is supposed to be used for road maintenance. This Bill is long overdue. The way it is today, the fuel levy is divided and given to those authorities in proportion. Some percentage goes to Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA). However, recently the Treasury introduced another provision which allows them to disburse to the counties. As we sit here today, counties get 15 per cent of fuel levy collected. It is important that this is regularized through an Act of Parliament so that we know what everyone gets. The authorities that are in place have all done a good job. In fact, it is important that we maintain those bodies. The KeNHA, KURA and KeRRA roads must be maintained and allow counties to also build capacity and do the roads within their mandate. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have to look at the Bill at the Third Reading on what needs to be done in terms of what our colleagues in the National Assembly have done. This Bill passed through the National Assembly in the last Parliament and came here. It lapsed because before the Senate could take action on it, we went to elections. I personally was very much involved right from the beginning when the Kenya Roads Act, 2007 was enacted. I was then the Accounting Officer in the then Ministry of Roads and Public Works. We did a lot of work in the National Assembly last time as the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Roads and Transportation. I am sure our Members of the Committee on Transport led by the Senator for Kiambu County and deputized with my former colleague who was an engineer in the then Ministry of Transport and Public Works also, Sen. (Eng.) Hargura Godana, will look at this Bill properly so that we enact a Bill that is useful for this country and make the management of the road sector in this country better. Mr. Speaker, Sir, roads are a very important part of this economy. Without proper infrastructure and maintenance, we cannot grow our economy. Before the commissioning of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), 80 percent of both human traffic and luggage is putting a lot of stress on our roads. We need our roads to be better constructed and managed. I am happy today because compared to the last 10 years, the road sector looks quite different. We have interchanges and beautiful roads that we see in the first world. I am sure our roads can be done better if we get proper funding and organization. We should not be thinking of who is supposed to do what. It is important to have the authorities that are there. They have established the rural authorities. I think the other name has changed a little bit. The KeRRA has now been renamed as the Kenya National Second Roads Authority because the roads have been defined. We also have the other one which is KURA. I am sure there will be a lot of clamor by counties wanting to maintain their roads in the cities. I think it is important that we give a specialized agency to do that for 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."
}