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{
    "id": 1373849,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1373849/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 356,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Likoni, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mishi Mboko",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "in that docket and have godfathers and godmothers. They take advantage and buy the houses and resell them at a higher price to Kenyans. Right now, I am also thinking that the project has only kicked in a few counties and more so in only urban areas. We are asking ourselves, ‘what about the rural folks? Are they not Kenyans? Are they not going to be beneficiaries?’ According to me, only those within those counties where the projects have kicked are going to be the beneficiaries of this project. As a Kenyan, I am looking, for instance, in the long run, if one keeps paying the Levy and at some point they feel that they have paid so much and have not been given the house, is there a mechanism where they can submit their complaints or appeal so that they get the house or get back the monies they paid through the Housing Levy? I feel sick when I see how Kenyans are being evicted in an inhumane way. For instance in Voi, more than 3,000 Kenyans were left in the cold just because their land was needed for the housing project. You all saw on the television what happened in Changamwe, Kakamega, and other parts of this country. We want to empower Kenyans to have shelter yet we destroy the shelters that Kenyans used their monies, struggled to take mortgage and loans to acquire for their families. We need to go back to the drawing board and see how we are going to ensure affordable housing in a way that we are not hurting many Kenyans. Many days ago, we had municipalities (current county governments) that used to build affordable houses and yet there was no Housing Levy. People used to buy them as there were very good instalment schemes whereby one paid a little amount monthly and after a certain period of time they would get the ownership of that house. As Kenyans, we need to debate this issue in a sober manner so that we are all winners. We should have a win-win situation. Yes, we need affordable housing for our Kenyans who live in the slums and those that do not have shelter. It is not right for a developing country like Kenya not to have such a project. However, we cannot do it in a way that we are putting Kenyans in a tight rope. Today, very many Kenyans have taken mortgage. A house is not a priority to many of them. They want to take their children to universities and colleges. Maybe they want to open up a business empire so that they can have income generating activity and have some fun. Today, if we keep taxing Kenyans, it will not empower our country in terms of economy. How many companies have closed today and sacked very many Kenyans in this country just because of the issue of taxation? So, any time we come up with a noble idea, let us look at the legal framework which will be applied so that it is a win-win situation to the Government and Kenyans. On the issue of land, we all know the categories of land: the national land and the land vested under the county governments. Tomorrow, somebody will say: ‘This was a community or a public land. How has it changed to a private land after somebody has been given a unit of a home?’ There are very many other issues in terms of the legal perspective which we need to address before we agree on how to ensure that Kenyans have shelter in this country. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am also looking at the 2 per cent money for administration. To me as a layperson, that is big money because we are talking about billions of money in the Housing Levy funds. Now, you are taking about 2 per cent for administration. We all know that administration costs are just a small part of the operating costs. Where will the surplus money be channelled to? If we leave it idle, some cartels will steal it and it will become a scandal. Before we pass this Bill, let us have a bipartisan approach so that we first talk, discuss and find the right way to implement this project, so that Kenyans are not annoyed with us. Many employees in the formal sector have nothing on their payslips because of the many deductions. Many Kenyans are getting depressed. Mental illness has become rampant in this country. Why is that so? It is because people do not believe what they see on their payslips. Many people earn a lot but more than 60 per cent of their salary goes to the Government. You 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"
}