Expansion of Major Roads and Infrastructure Equity

Wednesday 11 June, 2025 | Morning Session

The National Assembly session centered on transport infrastructure, particularly a motion calling for the expansion of national trunk roads into dual carriageways. In addition to legislative business, members raised various concerns about the quality of roads, regional inequities in infrastructure investment, and the safety implications of current road conditions. Several bills and motions were deferred due to the absence of their sponsors, while MPs used the floor to voice frustrations about project delays, regional imbalances, and procurement inefficiencies.

Bills Discussed

• Agriculture and Livestock Extension Services Bill, Senate Bill No. 12 of 2022 – Question deferred
• Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 3 of 2025 – First reading
• County Governments (Amendment) Bill, Senate Bill No. 25 of 2023 – Deferred
• Multiple motions (UHC, AI regulation, zoning policy, sports reward scheme) – All deferred due to absence of sponsors

Topics Discussed

• Expansion of trunk roads into dual carriageways
• Regional imbalances in infrastructure investment
• Procurement delays and abandoned school projects (SECIP program)
• Unfinished roads and contractor disputes in Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo
• Poor road safety and accident hotspots on single-lane highways
• Impact of road quality on economic equity and national cohesion
• Role of Parliament in ensuring fair distribution of infrastructure funds
• Challenges in education access and school infrastructure gaps

Key Takeaways and Decisions

• Debate commenced on a motion to expand national trunk roads to dual carriageways, with cross-party support
• Speaker ordered that the Health Committee table a harmonization report on the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill by the following Wednesday
• Several motions and bills stood down due to sponsors’ absence
• Ministry of Education committed to site-based project implementation to avoid future procurement failures
• Parliament urged to prioritize underdeveloped regions in road expansion projects

Major Participants

• Hon. Faith Gitau: Moved the motion on road expansion
• Hon. Timothy Toroitich: Criticized incomplete SECIP projects in Elgeyo Marakwet
• Hon. Julius Melly: Defended the Education Committee’s investigation process
• Hon. Junet Mohamed: Highlighted historic regional inequality and praised broader budget inclusion
• Hon. Farah Maalim: Called for infrastructural justice and investment in neglected regions
• Hon. Owen Baya: Warned against inflated road costs and procurement cartels
• Hon. Mohamed Ado: Spoke on the disparity between northeastern Kenya and the rest of the country
• Hon. Beatrice Elachi, Hon. Irene Mayaka, Hon. Wamboka, Hon. Mohamed Ali, Hon. Kibagendi: Supported inclusive road development and criticized poor contractor accountability

Key Moments

• Heated exchanges over absenteeism and inadequate committee investigations into SECIP
• MPs repeatedly criticized past and current governments for systemic marginalization of certain regions
• Multiple speakers warned that lack of roads contributes to national disunity and underdevelopment
• The term "first-class and second-class citizens" was used to describe disparities in infrastructure access
• MPs from the north and coast passionately argued for affirmative action in road funding

Notable Quotes

• “This is for first-class Kenyans. I, a second-class citizen — a third, for that matter — I need the basics.” – Hon. Saney
• “Had we done this 20 years ago, we wouldn’t be talking about poverty.” – Hon. Junet Mohamed
• “We are still colonized by our own government.” – Hon. Woman Rep, Turkana

This summary was generated from official YouTube livestreams of the Kenyan Parliament using bunge-bits, an automated transcription and summarization tool.