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{
    "id": 813685,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/813685/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 187,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kasanga",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13185,
        "legal_name": "Sylvia Mueni Kasanga",
        "slug": "sylvia-mueni-kasanga"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. As I reply, allow me to thank all the Senators for their input and contributions towards the Motion. Indeed, you can see the frustration there is with the few Senators who are here today. Repairing roads that are barely used is an expensive affair and a retrogressive approach to the intended economic development. We have also heard that good roads are a sign and symbol of development. They are the largest engine to economic development and uplifting the living conditions of people by offering the opportunities that they need; be it work or market for their goods. The statistics have shown that we have only achieved a little over five per cent in paving of our roads that have already been classified. So, we have a long way to go. Indeed, this is the only way forward to finding the sustainable, eco-friendly and inexpensive sustainable solution. We have heard from various Senators that the Big Four Agenda cannot be achieved without roads. What is the point of building hospitals when our citizens cannot get there? How will that universal healthcare work? We have heard of the poor state of education in Tana River because students and teachers cannot access the roads. Mothers die as they try to get to hospitals. We have also heard about corruption. You cannot talk while you are eating. Coming up with such regulations will help in the fight against corruption because we will be cutting all the avenues where people are constantly looking for any opportunity. To crown it all, I think Sen. (Eng.) Hargura placed it very well when he said that this is not new, it has been tried before in this country back in 1974. It has been tried and tested and statistics have shown that certain counties have utilised this technology. We have heard about Meru County where it has been reported that the Governor has been going round looking for solutions. As it is, it is the mandate of the State Department for Infrastructure and it is time they woke up. I urge Senators to support and vote for this Motion so that the State Department can come up with regulations. Even as we await the Kenya Roads Bill (National Assembly Bills No.47 of 2017) to go through let us have these regulations in place. Madam Temporary Speaker, as you said, it is complementary to the Bill. So, we do not need to wait. Let the State Department come up with the regulations. There is a history that the Department has tried it and so we are not reinventing the wheel as such. I am grateful for the contributions and I now pray that we vote for it. Let the State Department do its work. Let us look forward to having our counties having accessible roads and then all the frustration will be put to rest. I thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker."
}