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{
    "id": 1392214,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1392214/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 126,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "them. It is important for us to note that if we do that automatically it means the coming Finance Bill will not be able to address the issues because if this is assented to in another one month, we will still require not less than six months to propose and pass an amendment. It is important to note that, that will be happening in the next Finance Bill. So that means whatever is not convenient to Kenyans, then we have to live with that for about one year. There is a matter the Senate has raised which I brought up. I am happy that the Senate has picked it. The matter concerning targeting. Once the houses are done, do we have some affirmative action in place to make sure that Kenyans who are unable to pay the required deposits will still get the houses? Today, I am a very happy Member of Parliament because the Senate has picked that. Once we pass the amendments, we will be sure that out of the total number of houses to be constructed, there will be a share for Kenyans who cannot at all afford them. Whatever share that they will be given, it will be upon them to plan and see how they can access that share. What does that imply? It implies that at the end of the day not the rich or the middle class Kenyans will take up all the houses. We have said many times that we are using public land to construct the houses and once they are complete, they will be sold to individuals or private sector. That is subsidising the houses when they are sold to the private persons. If we do not accommodate low income earning Kenyans, it will be unfair and that will be discrimination in terms of who benefits. I am happy that, that has been picked by the Senate. The other critical matter is the issue where if you do not remit the money, you are charged 3 per cent penalty. The Chairman of the Committee has come out very clearly that we should treat this matter just like we treat taxes so that if there is a delay in paying the tax, let this matter be treated the same. But unfortunately, we are saying we are going to accommodate that 3 per cent in the form it is. This means that for the next one year anybody who has been delaying the payment of that levy then has to face the consequences of paying 3 per cent penalty. This is an area I wish we amend. The other proposal is to bring on board Public Works and the NCA. The NCA is a regulatory authority so, I do not know how we are bringing them on board. Is it in terms of implementation or is it in terms of quality assurance? The NCA currently is designed to implement. Mostly they just oversee and make sure that standards are met. Bringing NCA and public works on board is an area I would wish that we make it very clear in the Bill on what role NCA will be playing. Otherwise, it will not make sense for the NCA, which is a regulatory authority, to become an implementer in this arrangement."
}