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{
    "id": 1014069,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1014069/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 196,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to give my contributions to the Sectional Properties Bill (National Assembly Bills No.23 of 2019). I want to thank Sen. Kang’ata for bringing this Bill to the Floor of this House. When this Bill becomes law, it will be very good for this country. The President has always been talking about housing issues and acting to ensure that it becomes a reality. This blends well with the nation’s agenda of having affordable houses for everyone. It is very expensive for the common mwananchi to afford housing in Nairobi and other towns. However, when The Sectional Properties Bill (National Assembly Bills No.23 Of 2019) becomes law, it will be affordable for Kenyans. According to this Bill, an owner of a building with more than two units can apply to have sectional property. When that is done, it becomes a new property that is registered with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. In this case, it becomes easy for a property owner to decide that he or she is going to have a sectional property for one of the units, sell it and have value for money. One can also decide to use the sectional property unit as collateral in the bank to borrow money to invest and reinvest. When it becomes law, it will be very good. I am happy because this Bill has gone through public participation and submissions have been done. Since submissions have been made, amendments are accepted by Kenyans. Madam Temporary Speaker, even though amendments are there, I want to speak on the issue of leasing. The law speaks to the issue of leased property and freehold property. When it comes to leasing, it states clearly that sectional property can be done for a building that has 21 years to go. However, I want to suggest that it should not be less than 21 years to go. For example, supposing a parent is advanced in age and he or she has property that he wants to subdivide or bequeath his children, it becomes tricky if the parent is 80 years old and the property has ten years left. Therefore, there is need for a provision to ensure that such cases are handled. When it comes to sectional property, it should not have a time limit, until the expiry of 10 years and all that. That is because when the lease is over and the building is in Nairobi or any other county, and the owner has been paying the county money, such as city rates or land rates, then the property should just be registered even if it has two or one years to go. After all, the owner will have complied. I see quite a number of benefits in this Sectional Properties Bill. First, I see the economies of scale. When it comes to issues like water, it will be cheaper when you are applying for water. It will be cheaper when it comes to electricity. It will be cheaper when maintaining security in that building as opposed to when you are paying security for your apartment. When the apartment is demarcated into units, it means that the unit owners will pay security cheaply. It will also be cheaper when it comes to garbage. When it comes to infrastructure, for example, if roads are to be built, it will be cheaper. Cleaning the compound will also be cheaper because people will be contributing small amounts until they are able to raise all the money. 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."
}