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{
    "id": 1373699,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1373699/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 206,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kasarani, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Capt.) Ronald Karauri",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "agreed on the need for housing. They agreed that it is a fundamental human right. They agreed on the rate of population growth and migration to urban centres, we require approximately 250,000 new housing units per year. There are two things we must recognise from this fact. Kenyans agree that there is need for housing. The question is how this is going to be implemented. I also happen to be in the Departmental Committee for Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works. We went around the country. That must have been the most advanced public participation exercise I have seen. Kenyans agree that there is a need for housing. Where there is divergence is on several issues which can be cured and are already being cured by amendments to this Bill. The first issue was affordability of these houses. Most Kenyans lamented the fact that there was a deposit required to get access to the houses. That has already been cured in the amendments. I beg Members to please go through the Committee Report, because most of the issues that are being raised today have been addressed in that Report. Most of the other issues on allocation of the units, fairness in allocation and job creation have also been cured with amendments. How have these been cured? It is by ensuring that wherever these units are constructed, they benefit local communities. All those things have been addressed by the amendments based on the public participation exercise carried out by the Joint Committee. The issues that arose for most people are purely speculative. In Kenya, there is a culture of public funds being stolen. We have to get to a point where we have faith that some development is going to happen. Otherwise, we will remain in the same state. We are now 60 years after Independence. We have not achieved the provisions of Article 43 of the Constitution and ensured that Kenyans live in dignity. It is time, as a House, we rose and supported this Bill to ensure that, at least, as the 13th Parliament, we can be proud that we have eradicated some of the problems that have persisted before some of us were born. Even though this Bill only tackles housing, some people are saying we should first ensure that people have adequate food and jobs. However, social and economic rights must all be achieved simultaneously. We cannot say that since not everybody has a house, then they do not go to school. All our children need to go to school. Education is also a socio-economic right. Therefore, we must strive and achieve all those rights at the same time. We are already 60 years too late. One of the things we must ensure as Members of this House, instead of opposing the Bill, is to bring forth amendments of what we think should be changed. Both Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition and Kenya Kwanza Alliance, and the people of Kenya, agree that we need housing and there is a problem with housing. The number of jobs already created through the affordable housing units already being constructed has not been seen before. I heard one of the Members say that we do not need these temporary jobs. We need all jobs. My people in Kasarani need these jobs. I have to advocate for this because a lot of people who live in rural areas come to Nairobi to look for these jobs. They have nowhere to stay. The Government must ensure that whether it is rental or houses that people can buy, they have access to affordable housing. I rise to support and I submit. Thank you."
}