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{
    "id": 1014063,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1014063/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 190,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kang’ata",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1826,
        "legal_name": "Irungu Kang'ata",
        "slug": "irungu-kangata"
    },
    "content": "now one of the most expensive addresses for a good reason and we need to celebrate that on one hand. Of course, there are demerits in the sense that high rental charges may push out more and more people into the informal sector. On the other hand, it may show a vibrant property market. This Bill is one of the catalysts to that good property market. Take for example, addresses such as Upper Hill, the Central Business District CBD), Westlands and Kilimani. We need to encourage our people to own properties vertically. If you go to a place such as Kilimani we need to be happy that people are demolishing masonettes and small buildings and putting up flats. That is not a negative thing. Some people complain that the serenity of their places is being destroyed and traffic being increased. If we do not do that, we will be creating more and more slums. Imagine a building housing 500 families. If that flat was not there, those 500 families would most likely be owning land in a horizontal manner. What are we doing? We are just increasing and making Nairobi to develop horizontally as opposed to vertical development. The modern way of urban living is for people to live in high-rise buildings. When I go to places such as Kilimani and see those tall buildings, to me, that is development. There is no other law that would protect owners and tenants of those high-rise buildings than this law, which is being proposed by the Government. Let me also disclose an interest. In my other life, I do conveyancing. One feels very good when a client instructs them to be the lawyer conveyancing a whole building alone. One will be looking at 80 potential clients, each paying some fees. If this law passes, lawyers will also benefit because there is a lull in that property market. Once the law is there, people will now invest more in high-rise buildings because they know that they will attract clients. I know of many people from outside Kenya who have come to this country and are not putting up more high-rise buildings. I encourage counties that adjoin Nairobi, such as Machakos, Kiambu and Murang’a to embrace this concept and enact similar laws in their respective county assemblies, which are attractive to investors who want to put up high-rise buildings. The other day a friend of mine who is an American told me she wants to buy property in Thogoto Kiambu. She has Ksh120million. She was told by Kiambu County that it was not possible since the zoning in Thogoto area does not allow putting up high- rise buildings. That to me is a shame. Kiambu County needs to come up with better zoning policies that encourage investors to put up buildings so that more and more people can live vertically as opposed to horizontally. Particularly now that the Jubilee Government headed by His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta is busy building up roads; opening up Nairobi and the adjoining counties. We all know H.E the President is in France. He has gone to look for money so that we can build superhighways. I have been reliably informed, that Ngong Road has been upgraded. Currently, the road from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport going all the way to Westlands is going to have an overpass. We all know that the money that will come is going to improve the infrastructure on the Waiyaki Way, Westlands and other adjoining areas. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}