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{
    "id": 1245555,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1245555/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 269,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Okiya Omtatah",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Finally, because I would like the Mover to have time to respond, I want to comment on the so-called affordable housing. I would ask those pushing for that to distinguish affordable housing from cheap homes. What I see people talk about is creating mechanism for cheap homes for homeowners. Affordable housing is about access to decent housing. Affordable housing would be where the State puts up houses and controls rent. Let us assume the State develops Kibra and controls the rent there, people already living in Kibra today will not have to move to another slum because their houses will become too expensive, their houses will be decent and the State will control the rent so that people are not tortured through rent. Madam Temporary Speaker, still on the question of housing, there is also the issue of land. We have been told that county governments should set aside land for the so-called affordable housing. From the way things are happening, transferring public land into private hands in the name of affordable housing is a scam. If that is required, that proposal must come to the Senate as the custodians of counties and county governments in order to make a decision whether we will allow counties to be stripped of public assets in the form of land or not. Madam Temporary Speaker, as I support this Motion, I vehemently oppose the idea that counties should be made poorer by being forced to surrender many acres for the so-called affordable housing, which might eventually turn into homes of people, even if there will be no corruption, where private developers get land for free as has happened in Buxton, Mombasa, where the Estate was taken over by a private developer who put up houses. The people who lived in that Estate before cannot afford to live there now because the houses are expensive. Madam Temporary Speaker, those who are talking about housing should bring that Bill to this House because housing is devolved and we will help them distinguish between affordable housing and cheap homes. Affordable housing is not about ownership of a home but is about access to decent accommodation that the State guarantees. Madam Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I support the Motion and I thank you for the opportunity to comment."
}