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"id": 994084,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
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"content": "some of the recommendations, but we need them to upscale them. This is because, in the absence of the Judiciary functioning, other sectors are taking advantage. Madam Temporary Speaker, at that point, we said that the police are now giving people spot fines and almost performing the work of the courts. Once you give them that, they will not bring it back. That is not how our Constitution envisages access to justice. Madam Temporary Speaker, persons engaged in the public transportation industry had been experiencing challenges due to lack of renewal of various licenses and suspension of services by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), especially those in the digital forum. For example, the Ubers, Taxify, Bolt, et cetera, had been locked out by some App operators for lack of necessary documentation, yet these services were not being provided at that time. Madam Temporary Speaker, we met the NTSA and the drivers together on the 30th April, 2020. Our work is being seen to bear some fruits. On the same day, the NTSA published a notice on their website extending the expiry of motor vehicle inspections from 16th March, 2020 to 30th May, 2020. I am sure they will extend it further next week. You cannot get the digital licenses because of the fingerprints. At this time, during a pandemic, if truly some of these statutory timelines cannot be met, something is supposed to have been done and that is why it has be extended. That is part of the proposals in the Pandemic Management and Response Bill. For instance, if a license expires during this time, it should be deemed to still be in effect. This is because somebody cannot go and renew it. People are not getting certificates of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). What do you want them to do? Madam Temporary Speaker, as discussed earlier, maybe if time allows, I will let Sen. Faki, when he seconds to focus more on that issue of transportation. We met all these stakeholders. We have a traffic jam of over 40 kilometres at Malaba. There is the issue of our partners, our neighbouring countries and throughout the East African Community (EAC), not agreeing on the certificates of testing from one country to another. We are behaving like bad neighbours and do not trust each other. Why would Uganda refuse a Kenyan certificate and why would Kenya refuse Ugandan ones? I think Julius Nyerere must be turning in his grave because his dream for a united East Africa Community--- We are really embarrassing those wazees, including the late President Jomo Kenyatta and Julius Nyerere. Madam Temporary Speaker, we agreed and yesterday they met. They were even about to riot; I think they are even rioting. They said they will close the border. The drivers are staying there for days and sleeping in their trucks. There are very few people who are testing. Some of our drivers were quarantined in a neighbouring country and came out all negative. We need to look at that. We have given our preliminary findings and I am glad it had gone back to the Committee on Roads and Transportation. We will share that report with them and report back in one week’s time. Madam Temporary Speaker, there is police brutality and use of excessive force while handling violators or alleged violators of various regulations put in place to suppress COVID-19. It is inhuman and unacceptable. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}