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{
    "id": 1014066,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1014066/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 193,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Were",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13183,
        "legal_name": "Petronila Were Lokorio",
        "slug": "petronila-were-lokorio"
    },
    "content": "development. More people are moving to our counties as well. Therefore, there will be a lot of pressure on housing needs. This vertical ownership of property will come in handy. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is important that we develop a legal framework that will regulate or guide this industry. There has always been the question: If you own a unit in a block of flats, in whose name will the title of that land be? This Bill allows ownership of that unit. As the owner of that unit, you are registered and a certificate issued. That certificate will indicate your share in the common areas of that property. This will reduce a lot of conflicts that we have experienced as we continue to live in these vertical properties or apartments. Madam Temporary Speaker, the Bill has also explained the role of the county government, especially in the registration and management of sectional properties that are near each other. If you have visited Kilimani or Pipeline in Eastlands, we have many of these vertical units next to each. The management companies only deal with their block of apartments. However, there is no order and relationship between one apartment block and the next apartment block. Therefore, this law has now mandated the governments, both at the county and the national level, to also regulate the relationship between the various neighbouring buildings in this process. There has been a lacuna. Madam Temporary Speaker, right now, we are dealing with management companies that are independent and unregulated. In most cases, they are fleecing Kenyans in the name of managing those units for the owners. Madam Temporary Speaker, Part 3 of this Bill talks about a setup of a corporation. This corporation will be recognized in law. It will be a corporation that will sue or be sued and continue to be accountable to the unit owners. Since it is recognized by law, it will also be accountable to bodies of oversight like Parliament and county assemblies. The corporation will handle not only the administration and management of the units, but also contributions of the unit owners or the tenants. Madam Temporary Speaker, this legal framework is timely. It will reduce a lot of the fraud and conflicts that we see in this area, especially in the purchase of units. There has been a lot of fraud, especially those who buy units off-plan. You find that what you paid for in the off-plan is not what you will eventually get once the building is done. This Bill provides a platform of recourse in case such an event occurs. It will also make sure that even the developers are accountable to the Government and the potential buyers of these units. Madam Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I also call upon Senators, especially those with experiences in this area, to propose amendments like the ones we have already provided here. We will be moving them as a Senate. However, we also want Members of the Senate to propose amendments to this Bill. It is a Bill responding to contemporary trends and we all need to have an input in it. With those few remarks, I second."
}