The government has reiterated its commitment to complete all pending projects and ensure amendments of laws to reinvigorate the country’s transport sector.
Transport PS Mohamed Daghar speaking at a Mombasa hotel Friday, when he appeared before the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, said part of this ambitious plan is is a review of legislations to align them with new emerging developments.
The review is aimed to forestall legal hurdles for projects being undertaken by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) and the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).
Daghar hailed the cordial relationship between the State Department and the Parliamentary Committee, which is key to driving the legislative mandate of the department.
The State Department is in the process of revoking the Legal Notice establishing the Railway City Development Authority to avoid duplication of functions with KRC.
In his submission to the committee chaired by Ndia MP George Macharia, the PS noted that the process of reviewing the draft 2023 Railway Bill to align it with the Reviewed Integrated National Transport Policy is at an advanced stage.
“We are undergoing a lot of legislation review, in terms of policies and the entire architectural legal framework,” he said.
“A regulator like the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority is constantly undergoing amendments of its statutory instruments,” he added.
The PS assured the legislators of his State Department’s determination to ensure all pending projects are completed on time, adding that the government was currently undertaking a review of stalled projects to establish what has caused delays in taking necessary actions.
The Committee was also informed that KAA is in the process of developing an Airstrips policy that will address issues relating to funding and management of airstrips
The committee observed that airport land had been encroached posing a serious security threat to the aviation sector in the Country.
The Committee Chairman said they have reviewed the status of ongoing projects, challenges and how they can resolve the bottlenecks.
“As a committee, we have devised ways on how we can assist KAA to efficiently undertake their mandates of facilitating the transportation of cargo and passengers in our major airports and airstrip,” said Macharia.
Admittedly, the Chairman said the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) faces numerous challenges, but works were ongoing to improve operations at the country’s major entry point for international arrivals.
“As an oversight committee, we have a task to find out why some projects are at a snail’s pace, if it is a result of budgetary constraints we will look for ways for funding to be availed,” said the Committee Chairman.
On grabbing KAA lands, the committee halted the issuance of leases before the approval of parliament.
Consequently, the committee directed acting KAA Manager Henry Ogoye to submit the names of companies and individuals laying claim to airport lands to know the next course of action.
By Sadik Hassan
