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{
    "id": 945267,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/945267/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 26,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Milgo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13174,
        "legal_name": "Milgo Alice Chepkorir",
        "slug": "milgo-alice-chepkorir"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order No.47(1), I rise to make a statement on an issue of general topical concern regarding dangers posed by abandoned and disused excavated pits in road construction sites across the country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it has become common nowadays that behind every road construction, there is a disused excavation site abandoned by road constructors. The road contractors usually excavate stones and murram for construction but after they are done, they do not bother to reclaim the land or put in place safety measures to prevent exposing people and animals to danger. Last week, in Siongiroi, Kelichek area of Bomet County, two people perished after falling into a deep excavated area filled with water. A few months ago, a high school student also fell in another excavated area around Ndaraeta area of Bomet County and lost her life. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, such cases happen frequently not only in Bomet County but across the country. The trend of contractors abandoning excavated sites without reclaiming them should be stopped. The Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development and all other responsible State agencies should formulate stringent measures to ensure road construction companies bear a heavy responsibility for environmental degradation. My concerns are- (1) Why do the road contractors abandon disused pits after they have excavated murram for road construction without reclaiming them back thus posing danger to locals across the country? Is it due to lack of policy on environmental restoration? (2) What measures have been taken against road construction companies in Siongiroi, Kelichek and Ndaraeta areas of Bomet County that excavated murram for road construction and abandoned the sites leading to the death of the three school children who fell in the water filled pits? (3) What measures have been put in place to compensate families of the victims who get injured or lose their lives as a result of the hazard posed by the disused excavation sites? I thank you."
}