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{
    "id": 813073,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813073/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 72,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Kenya Urban Roads Authority or the Kenya National Secondary Road Authority. There is nowhere this Bill expressly states that resources will be set aside to build capacity at the county government level. We will be wrong, as the Senate, to pass this Bill without an amendment to make provision that capacity building at the county level will be one of the most critical functions required for any national or road network to take effect. For example, the heart can only pump through a system. If any of the ulterior systems is defective, then it clogs up, you have jam and you are no longer alive. Similarly, the road network in this country is so critical and important for the development of this nation. This is why Kenyans were willing to accept any levy to build the infrastructure necessary to carry their goods or produce from the farms and everywhere else to the market. When you go outside Nairobi or the three cities; Mombasa, Nairobi or Kisumu, the road network is pathetic. It takes you hours to be on the road. You just need to have one vehicle to block the road and you are stuck for 12 to 24 hours. Any structure that needs to be done at this stage must have a vision, programme and plan on how to alleviate the congestion you are likely to meet. This is why I was persuaded by Sen. Wetangula’s approach, that we should now look at what is most cost effective. We should spend more money on dual carriageways linking counties and the international highways so that we can get smooth flow of traffic without any hindrances. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Clause 17 of the Bill discusses the Kenya National Urban Roads Authority and Clause 18 talks about the Kenya National Secondary Roads Authority. Some of these functions are done by the county governments. There is no provision in the Bill which states how the county governments are going to be represented. Everything is centralized, and there is no way county governments can exert influence on a particular structure of the road to be done within their own counties. Since we are here for the interest of counties, I think it is important to look at this more closely, particularly at the Committee Stage so that we know how to bring in county representation, either through the Council of Governors caucus. I can see in the Bill, the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee as a representative but that is not the way to go because policy is an important ingredient to the development of these roads. Without having the policy head involved and only putting technical people, we will be making a big mistake as Senate if we let this Bill go through without necessary amendments. We should look at that level and decide how we want to do it. I will give you an example. I am very worried because these days, roads are being done in terms of billions. This road was developed when I was the Minister for Local Government and it was in tatters because of the heavy rains. However, through the Kenya Urban Support Programme of the World Bank (WB), they gave out a contract for this road. You will be surprised that Kenyatta Avenue that you see here today was done at a cost of Kshs25 million. However, if you were to give out the same stretch of Kenyatta Avenue from Moi Avenue to the roundabout at in Nyayo House near the Provincial Administration, the cost will be in terms of billions of shillings. Like I have mentioned before, this road was done when I was the Minister for Local Government, and you have not seen a single pothole 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."
}