Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1011764,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1011764/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 381,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to support this Motion. Nairobi is actually the Capital City of Kenya. It is a cosmopolitan and a very busy town. People keep migrating to Nairobi. There is already a proposition to have the Kenya Railway place become a special planning area. Even as we think through this issue, we really must empathize and put ourselves in the shoes of Kenyans who are already living there. I am fully aware that there are quite a number of Kenyans who have lived there. They were born there. They even got married there. They have children and grandchildren there. Some of them have not known any other home other than that particular area. As the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning requests for more time, it is my plea, as a Senator, that we also look into the plight of these Kenyans. At one point, I saw youth in the media saying they have no other home to go to; they have not known any other home. It is important also that even as this preparation and planning is being done, these Kenyans are brought on board. If you are saying that it will be a private enterprise, there is need to ask ourselves: where will these Kenyans go? This will ensure that they are also placed somewhere and do not become desperate. As a Senate, we are actually mandated constitutionally to protect every Kenyan, even those Kenyans who are unable to protect themselves and provide security for themselves and their families. The State is supposed to provide security for them. That is a constitutional demand, which we must respect and honour. Even if that place will be bought, we should not be in a hurry. We should not be happy about taking out tenders and people bidding. Even as people bid, we have to ask ourselves: where will these Kenyans go? Some of them were left by their grandfathers and fathers in that place and do not know any other home. The issue of placement should be at the centre of this timeframe that they have been given. This Committee ought to have presented the report on the Floor of the Senate in 28 days, but it is well-meaning and well-thought that the report should come much later. This will ensure that a lot of interrogation is done and even the Ministry of Lands and Planning also finds out, in terms of ownership, if we have Kenyans who have legal documents that speak to the issue that they are the ones who possess that land. Therefore, there is need to compensate them. When I talk about issues of compensation, they should take into consideration the issue of market rates; that this area is in Nairobi and there is actually need to place them. I stand here to say that, as a Senate, we must protect the vulnerable and those who cannot support themselves. Those Kenyans who are living there need to be compensated and the Government should ensure that they are living, just like any other Kenyan. This is so that whatever issues that are done, even when it comes purchasing, bidding for tenders and all that, people are even free at heart. They should ensure that they do not hurt the vulnerable and poor families. People also do business in that place. So, there is need to consider what will happen to their businesses because the vote is what will really make us stand as a Senate; that we defended the vulnerable and protected Kenyans because we have a constitutional duty to do that."
}