Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia during consultative forum organised by a select committee of Parliament that serves as the oversight organ, January 26, 2018. [Photo/James Macharia]
Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia participated in the consultative forum organised by a select committee of Parliament that serves as the oversight organ to study policies, programmes, projects and the business of thr ministry, for and on behalf of Parliament.
The forum provides an open platform for the Ministry's executive team to highlight the progress of their developmental mandate and Parliament's support on approval of key policies that will lead to the realization of mapped infrastructural projects, as stipulated in the "Big Four" Agenda.
At the forum on Friday, the executive took time to share progress on deliverables in all the five state departments, their parastatals as well as seek the legislatures intervention in fast-tracking the following crucial bills;
❏ Enactment of the Kenya Roads Bill 2017;Engaging the Parliamentary Committee on delegated legislation on the Kenya Roadsregulations before laying the same before Parliament;
❏ Lobbying for the enactment of the proposed scrap metal bill 2014 to controlthe vandalism of metallic road assets;
❏ Lobbying National Assembly for increased budgetary allocation to alleviate pending bills and allow finalization of projects in a timely manner; and in
❏ Engaging County Governments on modalities of charging of cess and fees on road construction material
❏ Approval of the Integrated National Maritime Policy (INMP) and the National Maritime Spatial Plan
❏ Lobbying the National Assembly for additional funding for the delivery of the 500,000 affordable homes programme; and
❏ Enactment of the following Policies and Bills:
● National Housing Policy
● Construction industry policy
● Urban Areas and Cities Amendment Bill 2015
● Kenya Building Research Institute Bill 2017
● Housing Bill
● Built Environment Bill 2017 and the Building Regulations (Buildingcode)
● Building Surveyors Bill
● Landlord and Tenant Bill
Among those in attendance were the Committee's Chairman David Pkosing, MP - Pokot South, his vice chairperson Moses Kuria, MP - Gatundu South, and all the other 17 members drawn from constituencies covering all regions of our country; from Wajir North, West Mugirango, Tarbaj, Nyatike, Ol Kalou Banisa, Buuri, Mathiora, Kajiado East, Sotik, Nakuru Town West, Mumias West, Isiolo, Mwingi Central, Msambweni, Lugari and Sotik.