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{
"id": 1291652,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1291652/?format=api",
"text_counter": 295,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. M. Kajwang’",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13162,
"legal_name": "Moses Otieno Kajwang'",
"slug": "moses-otieno-kajwang"
},
"content": "I agree with those who believe that we need more cities. In fact, we need at least 47 cities in this country. The idea that cities are supposed to be somewhere close to the mountain, ocean or lake is completely outdated. Currently, about 27 per cent of Kenya’s population is urban, but it is urban in very squalid conditions. We must ensure that we develop urban areas to cities, and municipalities, so that the things that our people used to do and the kind of life that they used to live long before modernity, we make it a thing of the past. Sometimes some of us are very proud of where we come from because we can go to the lakes and rivers and bathe, wash utensils and clothes. However, that is not how we are supposed to live in the modern world. Even though these urban areas and many people in those urban areas are living in slums and shanties, that is not how it is supposed to be. If this House adopts this Report to make Eldoret a city, I would like that it be a modern city. It has so much space. I was a student at Moi University and spent four years in Eldoret. It is a beautiful place with lots of land, such that it can expand in whatever direction. Kisumu would like to expand, but it cannot expand into the lake. Mombasa would want to expand, but it cannot expand into the ocean. Nairobi would want to expand, but it is expanding towards Ruiru, Machakos, and Kiambu. Eldoret has a golden opportunity to be a city that can be replicated; a city that people can come just to marvel at urban planning in Kenya. There is no reason the Romans, Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, and even our neighbours, the Baganda, could build modern cities planned, with facilities, services, water, sewage, and ablution, yet we, with more superior knowledge and technology, are building cities that turn into shanties and slums. That must be the challenge that we give to Eldoret. From the mood of the House, it appears that Eldoret is going to be our next city, but what kind of city do we want to build in Eldoret? We must build resilient and sustainable cities. Cities that are environmentally clean, green, powered not by coal and archaic methods of electricity and power generation, but powered using clean and green energy. I know we have an adjournment Motion, and so, I will make my comments very brief. There are certain risks that I must bring to the attention of the House. In your introduction, you have introduced the Municipal Manager of Eldoret. We want to see the Municipality of Eldoret doing what it ought to do under the Urban Areas and Cities Act and under the Public Finance Management Act. This morning, the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) had a session with the Governor of Uasin Gishu. Part of the issues that the Auditor General has flagged is the non-preparation of Financial Statements by the Municipality of Eldoret. I am glad that the Auditor General now says that it is a thing of the past. However, we must take financial management very seriously if we want to build modern resilient cities. Three months ago, the second largest city in the United Kingdom, Birmingham, filed for bankruptcy because it is unable to meet its obligations. I see a risk in the City of Eldoret. When we looked at the contingent liabilities in the County of Uasin Gishu, it emerged that Uasin Gishu has 700 court cases that are active. If you quantify that"
}