Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 813145,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813145/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 144,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Seneta",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 611,
        "legal_name": "Mary Yiane Senata",
        "slug": "mary-yiane-senata"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me a chance to contribute to this Bill. From the outset, I want to say that this is an important Bill and is long overdue. I will support it, but with some amendments because it is not promoting the spirit of devolution. We need to analyse it critically because our role is to oversight county governments and take care of their interests. The passage of this Bill might slow down the development of infrastructure in our counties. Therefore, I urge this House to align this Bill to the functions of county governments. We can pass it as the Kenya National Roads Bill so that the authority envisaged in it, does not interfere with county roads. Madam Temporary Speaker, when you look at Part II of this Bill on the establishment of the Public Roads Centred Boards, states as follows: “The Board shall consist of a representative from each of the following bodies: The State department responsible for public roads; State department responsible for matters relating to devolution; the inter-governmental relation technical committee and all other authorities not having a single representative of the county governments and not having a single committee member from the county governments.” What are the functions of this Board? The functions of this Public Roads Standards Board are very good. I request to read the functions. It says: “To look into the standards for roads and bridges materials, designs, construction, maintenance and performance levels. Standard contract forms for work and consultancy services. The research and studies necessary for development and updating on public roads standards.” These are quite good functions. However, we are lacking the public participation aspects in this Bill. We need to listen to the voices of the counties. In the absence of public participation, we pass it as the National Roads Bill and exclude the county governments. The issue of classification is very good. Management and maintenance of our roads is a good idea. As I talk, the issue of maintenance of our roads in this country is wanting. We spent a lot of money constructing our roads, but when it comes to maintenance, we do nothing. Today, many roads are not passable because they have not been maintained for a long time. They have developed potholes and are completely damaged. 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."
}