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{
    "id": 813065,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813065/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 64,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There is no single county in this country, probably Nairobi City County because of its major economic base, that can undertake road works of the quality required of tarmacking roads that can last for 10 to 20 years because they do not have money. The demands on them are such that you go to a county, every area wants a tarmac road. So, you will find that the counties are now trying to juggle like conjurers with the little money they have to make sure there is a little tarmac here and there. They end up with roads like look like a veneer of tarmac. In the last Parliament, we were treated to some comedy here from Machakos County where we saying Machakos County had the distinction of having the oldest new road in Kenya; a brand-new road that was in tatters within three months. If we want to do that kind of shoddy work and parade ourselves with selfies and all manner of paraphernalia that we are doing a good job, we are committing a fraud on the people of Kenya. It is better to make a few kilometres every year of good roads than to make many kilometres of no tarmac; just a pigment of tarmac and nothing else. This is so important. This can only be cured if, as Parliament, we obligate the national Government that it constructs all, if not as much as possible major tarmac roads in the counties and hand over to county governments for routine maintenance and repairs so, that they can be part of their economic activities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, equally important is the lack of positive action in marginalized areas. When you look at the classification of roads here, if this classification will work, God help the people of northern Kenya like Dr. Ali’s counties and others. This is because we are emphasizing communication, population, number of cars and so on, that will determine the classification of roads and the amount of money to be put on it for construction. When will anybody ever construct a road from Marsabit to Loyangalani? When will anybody every construct a highway from Modagashe to Isiolo? It means those areas will remain marginalized. I would expect my colleagues from those parts of the country to scan through these Bills and argue against continued marginalization of their areas. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want also to talk about the issue of lack of maintenance of roads. There was an American Ambassador here who once said: “It does appear that in Africa, the vocabulary of repair and maintenance do not exist.” If you look around, you will see a road is constructed, it is used, wears off until there is need for reconstruction. If you go to Europe, you are told this road was constructed a century ago and it is still intact. Mr. Speaker, Sir, could I have a few more minutes?"
}