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{
    "id": 960297,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/960297/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "certified. These building standards provides for many of these additions that will cater for all categories of persons. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you have traveled around the world and I am grateful that I have also traveled with you in many places. You will find that when you get to a crossing at the end of a pavement, there is a slope or gradient. It does not just end abruptly. The slope or gradient is almost like a ramp and it is meant for those on wheelchairs to use the pavements. Secondly, they have some dots such that when somebody is walking with a cane, they can feel that they have come to the end of a road where there is a crossing and their lights have a sound. I have seen some of the projects that the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) where you hear the beep of the traffic lights to help those who have physical impairments such as the deaf and blind. This standard exists, but our problem is that many of these things are just on paper. They have even specified the size. The Ministry and the KeNHA must tell us – because they are trying to implement a bus rapid transit in this country – if we will have buses that have a specific width of doors and height such that those who are disabled can get onto them. There are specified widths that are world standards that we have on our shelves that need to be implemented. When projects are done, roads are not built for vehicles. They are built for people to commute using vehicles, walking or cycling. We want to see more cycling paths and provision for pedestrians who are the majority of those who use roads this city. I would like Members of the Committee to go beyond the three questions in this Statement and interrogate the standards. Indeed, it is difficult to change, especially private buildings that have already been built. Nairobi City County Government should listen to this and I am sure the Committee will engage with them. Any new approvals should not be allowed unless they have taken into consideration all persons who are supposed to access buildings. Finally, in the previous Parliament, I was a Member of the House Business Committee. When Hon. Denita Ghati got an accident and got physically impaired, it is when we realised that somebody who is physically cannot reach the first floor. She stopped attending meetings. That is when lifts were installed. Let us think beyond just those who are able, but all the people who use these facilities. The environment should give everybody space and dignity to transact their business. Thank you, Sen. Shiyonga, for bringing this statement."
}