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{
    "id": 813604,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813604/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 106,
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    "content": "avocadoes at Kshs50 because there is too much in their farms and they do not know where to take them since the roads are inaccessible. So, anytime they access the market even minimally, they sell their efforts at a throwaway price. This is a timely Motion which this House should not take for granted because we need to help the rural farmer and the person out there who is determined to work but has no accessibility. When rural roads are accessible, everything else will be accessible and we will see investors going to rural areas in various counties to invest. Once the roads are done, health centres and schools will also come up. Investors and entrepreneurs will even put up factories because they are always waiting. Once there is a niche, they will salvage the situation in rural Kenya because they will go there even if they are acting as brokers who go to pick produce from farmers to sell them. Accessibility is important. Creation of employment is core and very important for this country because we have many people who are unemployed. We can create employment in rural areas. There is heavy traffic of people coming to towns day in, day out because they realised that they are unable to eke out a living in the rural areas. This is brought about by low development. In a situation where there are standard roads which are also maintained, people will venture into the rural parts of this country and be productive. Productivity is core to development. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Senator has come up with a Motion that is important. It makes us, legislators, think of how we can ensure that rural Kenya is accessible. As we talk of accessibility, maintenance is also core. It is very expensive and it should be continuous. If not, there is a chance of county governments using even more money to maintain the roads. For instance, if a road is not constructed well, it means that after one year, county governments will be thinking of repairs. If they ignore the need for maintenance, in the second or third year, they will use double or triple the amount of money to repair roads and this is a sad state of affairs. Money should be used in counties in a good way. Money should not be used to do repairs because work has been done shoddily. Instead of allocating money to roads that have been shoddily done, it should be put to use for other things. That money can be used to put up schools and health centres. Roads need to be maintained because if they are poorly done, that has an implication to the country. I strongly support this Motion. It is my desire and belief that it will see the light of the day and it should translate to a Bill, so that we have a Bill concerning roads and accessibility in rural Kenya. If it becomes law, then wherever the people of this nation are, they will benefit from devolved governments. I thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I second."
}