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{
    "id": 1373566,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1373566/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 73,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to move that the Affordable Housing Bill (National Assembly Bill No.75 of 2023) be now read a Second Time. Hon. Speaker, for the comfort of Hon. Junet, I will repeat that this Bill concerns counties and if approved by the House, it will find its way to the Senate. Allow me to thank the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, Hon. Ng’eno, who is here, and the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, Hon. Kimani Kuria, who, together with their 30 members, spent a considerable amount of their recess time going to 19 out of the 47 counties, including Nairobi City County here in Parliament. They conducted very extensive public participation, listening and consulting a wide cross-section of stakeholders and technical experts by way of public hearings. The Committees have done commendable work. As I mentioned earlier during a point of order, they have indeed done a lot of justice to this Bill. Bills, as proposed, are mere legislative proposals. They, therefore, require the input of our Committees. That is why I take a lot of time to thank the Committees for doing a lot of invaluable work. They consulted very many experts from the housing sector, finance experts and even ordinary Kenyans who are potential beneficiaries of this housing agenda and the Bill, including potential contributors to the fund. We saw Kenyans coming out to agree with the court that the Housing Levy, as it was in the Finance Act, had discriminated against some who wanted to contribute. When I saw, on television, Kenyans coming out to say that they want to contribute to this fund because they understand its input in our national development and the job creation endeavour, I was very impressed. This is cognisant of the fact that there are millions of young Kenyans from all walks of life, including people in self-employment, who have no jobs. I saw some market traders; I do not remember whether they were from Kariokor. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning or the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works would have reminded me. They appeared before the Committee and asserted that they would want to find a mechanism to contribute to the Fund. This is not only to access housing as a constitutional right under Article 43 of our Constitution, but to also offer young and unemployed Kenyans a chance to access job opportunities. 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"
}