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{
    "id": 1547711,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1547711/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 245,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13599,
        "legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
        "slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
    },
    "content": "If you examine the agreements signed between the Nairobi City County Government and the developers, it is stated that the Nairobi City County Government will be receiving a proportion of housing units equivalent to the value of the land contributed for the specific project. For example, in Woodley, the land was reportedly valued at approximately Kshs10 billion, which entitles the Nairobi City County Government to a 30 per cent share of the housing units to be constructed in that project. How I wish this particular provision had been implemented earlier. Sen. Asige, unfortunately, in that agreement between the residents and the developer and Nairobi City County Government, nobody thought about access to housing by PWDs. You need to think about it at the inception, so that it is clear to the residents that, for instance, housing units on the ground floor will be exclusively for PWDs. There is no point of having a PWD on the 20th floor and creating even more problems when it comes to access. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I wish that this had been done earlier. As I have told you, you need to hang out with Sen. Crystal before you see some of the angles to these real issues. I hope we can make sure that there is a way of ensuring that Nairobi City County Government and the national Government which is doing houses in Mukuru and Langata ensure that 5 per cent will be set aside for PWDs to occupy even when it comes to contracts that have already been signed. The second limb of that particular provision provides for interest-free and longer periods of repayment. This is extremely critical because as we have been educated more than once here by Sen. Asige, there are economic downsides that come with PWDs because of the way the Kenyan economy is set up. They start off with clear disadvantage. They might not have the same access to resources or credit that we able-bodied persons have, or even jobs and economic engagements that can be meaningful to them. For us to provide interest-free payment and longer periods, it allows for these houses to be accessible to all these people. I remember having a conversation with one MP where the houses are being done. They said that the houses are affordable, but they deposit alone is Kshs150,000. We are doing the houses essentially in areas that were former slums. If you go to Soweto B in Langata, the people who are targeted to move to those places cannot afford Kshs150,000 as a deposit. In fact, that provision of a deposit should be removed entirely. We were able to push the Nairobi City County Government for them to consider that if there are people who have been occupying those houses in Woodley from way back when the estate was built, they do not need to put down any deposit. In fact, they do not need to pay any money. The Governor of Nairobi City County is on record saying that former residents of Woodley who gave up their houses for redevelopment will get their houses for free. The rent that was paid by their fathers and their fathers before them up to date is what constitutes the purchase price, and that it is a return for the goodwill in cooperating to ensure that the project is done. Even for the national Government, this question of asking residents of Kibera or Mukuru to pay a deposit of Kshs150,000 to access a unit then you start paying slowly will not work, especially for PWDs. We hope that we can convince even the national The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}