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"speaker_name": "Dr. Ojiambo",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to support the Minister for Local Government. I congratulate him for what he is achieving for this country. Local authorities are manned by very important people. Councillors are important politicians in this country. Those people can add a lot of value to the development of this country if they are properly mandated to do their jobs. I would like to ask the Minister for Local Government to evaluate the work of the councillors and find out whether they are properly utilised. Councillors know the local problems affecting urban and rural areas. They are at the grassroots level with the people, and they work together with them all the time. They know when the people are happy or unhappy. There is a lot that can be done to improve the welfare of our people through leaders in the local authorities. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to talk about development in the countryside. Where there are town councils and municipalities, some aspects of good development take place. But there are also many market centres in the countryside that have been neglected. That is because the Minister for Local Government is no longer creating more townships. There are many market places that could do with further encouragement. The Urban Towns Programme was of great encouragement to our rural community, until it was stopped. I hope that some areas can be improved through that programme. I am saying that in reference to our place called Sio Port. That place has been a household name in this country for a very long time. It is one of those very early trading centres. It used to be an important port for water transport. But since the vessels in Lake Victoria stopped going there, that place has been neglected! But it still continues to host a very active fish market with no sewerage. The fish we eat in Nairobi come from there. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, over ten years ago, that place had been approved for development, but up to today, nothing has happened. Traders, especially women, sit on the floor in a very dusty environment, selling fish to very honourable members of this society. I call upon the Minister for Local Government to think about the plight of Sio Port Trading Centre. It is a very active market place and all it requires is a shed and a few stalls to sell fish. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to make the same appeal regarding many fish markets. We still have many problems in those areas, and yet fish is eaten by all members of our community. Along the lake-side, there are no proper facilities for selling fish. I would like to call upon the Minister to send his inspectors, if they exist any more, to look at what is happening around those markets, so that we are assured of a clean environment at places where we go to look for food. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the same should be done to slum areas of Nairobi, other big cities and urban centres. I would like to talk about the welfare of people living in slum areas. The residents of slum areas in Nairobi constitute one of the most important workforces in the city, but they stay in appalling areas. There is no sewerage and toilet facilities. That is where many children in this country are born. It is appalling to see children grow up in those areas to become very important citizens of this country. When we talk about the cleanliness of Nairobi, we only think about the Central Business District (CBD). Go to Kawangware Market here, and you will be ashamed to think that those people also consider themselves to be Nairobians. As I said earlier, it is important that we have councillors who can help us improve the welfare of Kenyans. However, they can only do so if they are assisted by this Government. The Ministry should consider sending health inspectors periodically to different parts of this country to inspect the sewerage and drainage August 1, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2501 facilities. Some of our people live in very deplorable conditions. They cook in places where the drainage and sewerage systems are bad. Likewise, children play in such conditions. It is very important for this Ministry to treat this issue seriously. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to talk about the transport system in Nairobi. Our people no longer have adequate transport since the collapse of the Kenya Bus Service (KBS). The transport system has been reduced completely. We find very many people standing by the roads until very late at night, waiting for transport to their respective homes. Some of them walk for many miles because, today, the available Citi Hoppa buses cannot adequately serve everybody. The Minister should look into this problem, because Nairobians really suffer, especially when it rains, and yet these are the people who provide services to us. Therefore, they should not be exposed to this kind of suffering after work. Hon. Members claim to work for long hours, but from here we drive home comfortably. When the common mwanachi gets home, there is not even warm water to bath. The sewerage is running in front of their houses. It is really terrible for them. Therefore, the Minister for Local Government should consult with his colleagues in Government to improve transport for our people in Nairobi. This is an urgent problem. If we go out there, especially in the evening, we will see many people struggling to get transport back to their homes. Many children cannot get to schools in time any more because there is no adequate transport. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of boda boda transport in Nairobi is alive. It is here to stay. The boda boda mode of transport has assisted Kenyans in the smaller urban areas. Our people in Nairobi have also found it important. However, it is appalling to see bicycles speeding from Kawangware down the valley to Argwings Kodhek Road and James Gichuru Road; winding their way between the very heavy traffic and fast-moving vehicles. Our people must be protected. Side lanes must be constructed for bicycles to use. This has happened in other cities of the world. Therefore, Nairobi should also quickly start to think about it. The boda boda mode of transport will also help to decongest the capital city. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}