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{
    "id": 27861,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/27861/?format=api",
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    "content": "and Minister for Local Government for bringing this Bill to the Floor of the House. This is a very important Bill because it will operationalize Article 184 of the Constitution that Kenyans voted for overwhelmingly. It will also streamline the management of urban areas and cities. Not only that, this Bill also goes a long way in strengthening devolution that Kenyans have been yearning for, for many years. Kenyans, in their wisdom, made provisions for county governments. It is important that the laws that we make give powers to the county governments. I am glad to note that this particular Bill has a provision for that. The Bill provides for the county government to appoint the management boards for cities and urban areas. Unlike in the past when this was done by the relevant Ministers, the exercise will be carried out by the governor and his team. They will put in place strong management teams that will manage those cities and urban areas. I want to agree with hon. Mungatana in his submission that there should be a provision for qualifications for people to sit in the management boards. Secondly, I am happy to note that the Bill now makes it legally binding for cities to have development plans. We know that has been there on paper, but it has been flouted by developers in various cities. Therefore, with this kind of provision, which is in Part V of this Bill, we can now be rest assured that developers will abide by the development plans that have been laid down by the management boards of various cities. I am also glad that the Bill also gives neighbourhood associations strength. It gives residents some powers to participate in the management of their cities. That has been lacking and we all know that for any meaningful development to take place, the people being developed must be involved in that development. Therefore, I want to thank the Minister for making that provision. I also support the idea of coming up with a criteria to upgrade various areas to various levels like cities, urban areas and so forth. In the past, it was left to the whims of the Ministers and even, sometimes, to the President. I am happy with the threshold that has been put in place for a city to meet before it is given the status of a city. Lastly, we may take this for granted but this Bill provides for Nairobi as the Capital City of Kenya. This has not been there, although we may take it for granted. You never know, in future, you may wake up with a tyrant in State House and he may decide to declare his home town the capital city of Kenya. Therefore, it is very good. It has been made clear that Nairobi is the Capital City of Kenya. I want to congratulate the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government for this wonderful piece of legislation. Thank you. I support."
}