[kictanet] FW: KENYA ICT ACTION NETWORK QUESTIONS TO ENGINEER KIDENDA ON THE STATE OF KENYAN ROADS

[Grace Githaiga]

Good afternoon Listers
Please see below what Barrack was able to capture from the Thika Road debate. We will wait to hear from Engineer Kidenda. He promised that he will put his team of Engineers together to give us a comprehensive response. 
RgdsGrace

Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 00:50:56 +0300
Subject: KENYA ICT ACTION NETWORK QUESTIONS TO ENGINEER KIDENDA ON THE STATE OF KENYAN ROADS
From: otieno.barrack at gmail.com
To: dg at kenha.co.ke; ggithaiga at hotmail.com


The following are a number of questions raised by listers on the Kenya ICT Network a multistakeholder network with representatives from the government, civil society and private sector occasioned by the state of Thika road:

Where does Kenya stand when in comes to local road standards vis a vis  international standards.What are the ”smart transport solutions” (ICTs integration)  Kenya is considering to use in order to enhance road safety especially along the entire Thika road .
What does KENHA have  to say about the quality of work being done on the  road between Rimpa and Magadi (So far upto Kiserian town).How are  roads categorized, in terms those managed by the local authorities, central government and, if possible, those ones that are internationally managed?
Why does the government  award  contracts to companies that do not do their job professionally?There is a contractor  who was awarded a contract to rehabilitate Nairobi-Naivasha  Road ( between the former Museum Hill roundabout and Rironi)  and they've dug a whole stretch of the road, about a kilometer and a half. They dug up patches everywhere that drivers have to be extra cautious. Is there anything the Authority (assuming the said section is under Eng. Kidenda's Authority) can do to makes sure their are mechanisms in place for the contractor to ensure he  does not put the lives of road users at risk
How "safe" are our new roads ? Would they pass muster if road safety audits were conducted? There is a fundamental design flaw on our roads are the concerned parties now ready to listen or are we going to export these problems to Langata Rd, Ngong Rd, New airport terminals, Lamu Port etc?
There is a role played by  auditors at various stages.  Do we have evidence that KeNHA engages these or in other words do we have people in Government/Private sector playing that role currently?There is data collection and its role - But as we know data is useless unless turned to information. Does the relevant authority use this data? 
There is the common user and there very annoying problems - turn-offs which are suddenly blocked with no notice, on coming vehicle channeled to your lane, taking one hour to get to your gate while all the time you can see it a few meters from where you are stuck! Who is listening and helping?
There is the role that ICT can play to enable smart infrastructure - my take is that unless we embed it in at step 1 (design) above, it will be most likely be cosmetic.Are there any efforts to intergrate Intelligent transportation systems in this new super highways? (Making the Infrastructure Smart) Should there be an accident on the one way lane (how do we alert speeding drivers coming from behind) Secondly is there are provision for transmitters that can allow smart driving and speed Cameras. 
What strategy does KENHA have for creating ducts for Fibre optic and power cables, are we likely to see the new roads being dug up?Are there frameworks for evaluating infrastructure alternatives and clear processes for evaluating infrastructure system designs.
Thank you
On behalf of the KiCTANET Secretariat
-- 
Barrack O. Otieno+254721325277+254-20-2498789
Skype: barrack.otienohttp://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/

 		 	   		  
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