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{
    "id": 1111125,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1111125/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 212,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rongai, KANU",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kipruto Moi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2689,
        "legal_name": "Kipruto Moi",
        "slug": "kipruto-moi"
    },
    "content": "there is a tribunal to determine what the rent should be. Clause 18 of the Bill provides the procedure that could be used to increase or decrease the amount of rent. A landlord must issue a written notice three months prior to an increase. Failure to issue a written notice will render the increase invalid. Landlords may increase rent only once in a year for residential premises and once every two years for business premises. Both parties are free to adopt any form of tenancy agreement. They are also free to alter the terms and conditions of that agreement. In terms of termination of tenancy, a landlord must give a notice of 24 months in case of a business premise, and 12 months for residential premises. The tenant is entitled to terminate the tenancy agreement by issuing a one- month notice for residential tenancy and two months for business tenancy. This Bill also establishes a tribunal which is to be set up by the Chief Justice, and its members appointed by the Judicial Service Commission. The tribunal will have more powers than the current tribunal, which was set up by the cabinet secretary. This tribunal can issue injunctions, enforce its own orders and even punish for contempt of its proceedings and orders. There is a leeway for one to appeal to the High Court. In the previous tribunal, one could only appeal to the Environment and Land Court. Once a dispute is lodged with the tribunal, it must wind up the case within three months. That is meant to deal with issues of backlog of cases and ensure prompt delivery of justice. In conclusion, the COVID-19 Pandemic highlighted the distress that tenants went through in the hands of landlords. Thousands of Kenyans lost their jobs. Tenants were unable to pay, and landlords were running out of patience and money. There is a rent crisis in Kenya. About 70 per cent of people in this country are unable to pay their rent. The year 2020 will not be forgotten by tenants who faced the wrath of landlords. So, this Bill is timely because it will provide a legal framework to protect the interests of tenants and landlords. You can remember even when the President appealed to landlords to lower their rents, they still did not do it. It is in response to all that that this Bill has been brought here. We hope and pray that it will sort out problems that tenants normally go through. With those few remarks, Hon. Speaker, I thank you. I support."
}