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{
    "id": 1259907,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1259907/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 297,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. Sorry I started contributing before you proposed the Question. I rise to support this amendment because yesterday, the Minority Whip drew reference to the Railway Development Levy (RDL). He said some time in 2018 when it was created, it was sold as a way of helping settle the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) loans, but later, it was opened up. As I promised the House yesterday, this amendment is to buttress and ring-fence the Housing Fund to ensure the money is not used for other purposes. Once it is collected and goes to the Consolidated Fund without being appropriated to the relevant line Ministry, it can go to debt payment, construction of roads, payment of free primary education or other Government uses. Through this amendment, we are ring-fencing this money to ensure the money raised out of the 1.5% per cent Housing Fund will go to the Ministry of Housing to help actualise the housing dream and agenda. As was indicated by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works during the Second Reading, the first batch of 100 units per constituency… I have been told by the Ministry that the first 29 constituencies are ready, including those of our friends in Azimio. The Leader of the Minority Party has submitted his list of public land where affordable housing can be done. That is why I was thanking Members yesterday during the Third Reading of the Finance Bill. Indeed, even those who publicly oppose the Housing Fund when it comes to the actualisation and implementation of those projects, they are in support because they know this is good for this country. I want to encourage all Members of Parliament to identify public land in their constituencies where they can implement the housing agenda. 100 units in your constituency will create a minimum of 800 to 1,000 jobs for young men and women. I want to tell the people of Kikuyu that the land at the new Deputy County Commissioner’s (DCCs) Office has already been earmarked for the first 200 units and the young men and women from Kikuyu Constituency will access jobs. This is not what was being sold in the political bashing of the Finance Bill, that it is manual jobs for the people called ‘ watu wa kukoroga’ . It is from architects, engineers, electricians and land surveyors who will demarcate the land we are planning to construct on. Lawyers will also benefit from the conveyancing that will come out of the process of sale of the units constructed. Above all, the urbanisation of constituencies from units built will help consolidate land and afford more land for agriculture so as to secure the food situation in the country. Therefore, I support this amendment and I am glad that the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriation Committee has done exactly what he promised yesterday during the Third Reading of the Finance Bill. This money should not just disappear in some pot. It should be earmarked for actual construction of houses. I can tell everybody to watch this space as young The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}