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{
"id": 1335652,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1335652/?format=api",
"text_counter": 170,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Changamwe, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Omar Mwinyi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works regarding the management of houses and treatment of tenants on estates in Mombasa owned by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) in Changamwe Constituency. Five blocks housing 796 families, and owned by the NHC in Changamwe Constituency, are not fit for human habitation and have no reasonable standards for occupation. The services are wanting and in dire need of repair, especially the drainage which is blocked. Raw sewage has been flowing in the open and poses a health risk, even forcing residents to use their resources to fix the same. Some tenants have in the recent past undergone forcible, violent, and brutal evictions from their houses without being accorded alternative shelter, leaving them in the open and exposed to vagaries of nature, which in itself is a violation of their human rights as outlined in the Constitution. Actions taken by the NHC have been cruel and degrading since tenants were not given an opportunity to defend their position before the eviction and mistreatment. Further, some have been subjected to increased rent without notice and the NHC has backdated the difference as far back as 2009. The housing firm has in the past even claimed arrears of up to Ksh1 million, which is an outrageous and unreasonable amount for ordinary families. This is interfering with their peaceful stay in their houses. The relevant ministry should address the issue of validity, the correct rent to be paid, and how tenants can settle arrears, if any. In addition, there have been allegations of sexual harassment, corruption, rental disputes, arrears and harmonisation, access to purchase houses, ongoing projects with no approvals, thefts and injuries, security lights, social amenities, and lack of public engagement, especially participation by the community, among others. It is against this background that I seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works on the matters raised on: 1. Could the Chairperson state the mandatory essential amenities and facilities that developers and owners of affordable houses and other buildings or spaces must provide to tenants? 2. Could the Chairperson explain the steps taken by the Government to ensure that all waste water and effluent from sewerage systems on estates in Mombasa owned by the NHC in Changamwe Constituency are addressed? 3. Could the Chairman clarify whether the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) has developed regulations on the management of toxic and hazardous sewerage flow from the broken system and how they are implemented? 4. Could the Chairman explain what action has been taken against National Housing Corporation for poor management of the estate, constant harassment of residents living in the estate including threats of evicting them from their homes, sexual harassment, corruption allegations, rental dispute arrears and harmonisation, access to purchased houses, ongoing projects with no approvals, 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."
}