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{
    "id": 993974,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/993974/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 68,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orengo",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 129,
        "legal_name": "Aggrey James Orengo",
        "slug": "james-orengo"
    },
    "content": "Kampala and Nairobi City through the border between Kenya and Uganda, that is Busia, there is equally another big jam. Madam Temporary Speaker, this is the main Trans-African Highway. When they talk about building a land bridge between the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean, this road between Nairobi City to Eldoret to Bungoma, Kanduyi, Malaba into Uganda, is so critical. Therefore, something needs to be done. I do not think this is the first time the distinguished Senator from Bungoma County has brought this matter before the Senate or even before the National Assembly when we were there. Now, the health hazards and the welfare of truck drivers and passengers compounds the problem. There is something else which has happened; one of the oldest bridges built before World War II in the western part of Kenya between Ugenya and Ugunja constituencies, was brought down during the recent floods. Between the main Sub- County headquarters in Ugenya and Ugunja, there is no communication or traffic. People have to go on a roundabout away. It means that our borders are getting congested and with the COVID-19 pandemic, people of the region have to bear the consequences of this big problem. Madam Temporary Speaker, I will not repeat the issues that have been brought about in relation to social amenities and sanitation. I just want to emphasize even from purely an economic point of view, that the highway that goes through Bungoma, Kanduyi to Malaba, is shameful to continue to have that type of congestion. It calls for a national emergency solution. If we really pride ourselves that Uganda is our biggest trading partner, something like that should not happen. The consequence of it is that some of the countries in that region are now looking to Tanzania as an alternative route. You may not imagine it because in the future, it may be easier for goods in the northern part of Uganda to go through Ethiopia and into Djibouti because of the cost and related difficulties. If this matter is not addressed quickly and efforts put in place so that users of this Highway, including truck drivers which you have been emphasizing, when they have to stop for those number of days, there are facilities and amenities which can answer to their other social needs and health and welfare requirements. I hope that when Sen. Wamatangi, the Chairperson of this Committee sits with his Members, I urge him to also address this old bridge that connects to Busia County. In fact, from Busia County, there is an onward route to Malaba. Now that Malaba is congested and there is no access to Busia County because of this road – Bungoma, Kanduyi and Malaba will get even more congested. In fact, there was a huge demonstration at that bridge this morning. The police had to be called in. So, we need a very quick solution to this problem. Thank you."
}