Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 847982,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/847982/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 429,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kathiani, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Robert Mbui",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1750,
        "legal_name": "Robert Mbui",
        "slug": "robert-mbui"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, for the opportunity to debate this Bill. As the Seconder of this Motion stated, this is basically meant to deal with minor amendments to various laws. It also helps us to save time. I have gone through the Bill and I have seen quite a number of major amendments. The amendments are basically good and a lot of them seek to add value to the laws that exist. It is unfortunate that they have come as omnibus; they have all come together, so they may not receive the kind of attention that they require. I have picked about five amendments that I think are major and require a lot of deliberations. The first one is the amendment on the registration of persons. My colleagues have also talked about it. I do accept and support the introduction of the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS). It is a very good idea. In essence, it will help us to identify our people. Some of the amendments talk about the introduction of a single number to identify an individual, which is something that was in a Motion that was discussed in this House in the 11th Parliament, brought by Hon. Munyaka. It says that once one is issued with a birth certificate, the number on that birth certificate can be used as their identification number. It can also be used to get a driving licence. The NHIF and NSSF could use the same number too. Even banks could consider using that number when one is opening a bank account. So, this is a good amendment. The second is the amendment to the Traffic Act, Cap. 403. This introduces punishment and outlaws certain things that probably were not expressly outlawed in the parent Act. This is one of the amendments that I think Members should have deliberated on specifically, so that we look at the Act in totality. There are issues that come up every day. Recently, in Machakos County, the Governor brought in regulations – I do not know whether it is a policy decision - governing traffic within the county and yet there is the Traffic Act. The things that he has brought up are not negative, but they are clearly stipulated in the Traffic Act and could also be addressed using that Act. He has come up with different penalties and timings. I will give you the example of school transport, which is supposed to operate, according to NTSA, up to about 9.55 p.m., but the regulations by the Machakos County Governor say 7.55 p.m. During the recent heavy rains, we saw bridges being washed away. I ask myself: What happens when bridges are washed away and children are in the buses on their way home and 8 p.m. reaches, are they going to be arrested because of a natural disaster? Some of these rules and regulations are good, but there seems to be some double legislation which, obviously, will lead to double penalty. If you are penalised by NTSA and the county government, that goes against rules of natural justice. In the amendments to the Traffic Act, there is punishment for drunk driving, which is important because we have lost many lives on our roads because of people that drink too much and get behind the wheels and cause a lot of havoc. So, that is a very good amendment. On the part of insurance fraud, generally, that has been against the law. I do not know why we are specifically talking about it. In the Insurance Act, you cannot insure something that does not belong to you. I do not know why we are putting this in the Traffic Act. I am certain that the Insurance Act is clear about who can insure. You can only insure what belongs to you. You cannot insure something that does not belong to you. It is actually one of the regulations within the insurance industry. There is a new proposal about drivers who damage roads. I do not know and that is why I am saying these are major amendments that may have needed more time. What do we really mean by “damaging roads”? When you are driving and your car gets a tyre burst because of a The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}