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"id": 419748,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/419748/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "The Senate Majority Leader",
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"speaker": {
"id": 440,
"legal_name": "Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen",
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"content": "(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to issue a Statement which was requested last week on Thursday by the Senator for Nairobi, Sen. Mike Mbuvi Sonko, concerning the position on the increment of parking charges in the Nairobi City County. You directed that this Statement be given on Tuesday. I want to assure the House that the Statement was ready by Sunday night, just to demonstrate that we complied with the directions of the Chair and this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, since Sen. Mike Mbuvi Sonko was not available on Tuesday and Wednesday, we did not issue the Statement until today. We have received responses to all the questions that were raised. The first one was why the Nairobi County increased the parking charges by over 200 per cent, contrary to the resolution of the Nairobi County Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the response by the concerned authorities is that it is not true that there are any increments of parking fees beyond what was approved by the Nairobi City County Assembly. Schedule Four of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) provides for the devolution of transport and public works, as functions of the county governments. Pursuant to that mandate, the Nairobi City County Assembly enacted the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2013, published in the Kenya Gazette on 6th September, 2013, which provides for the charges payable. In other words, those charges are per the Finance Act of Nairobi County, which was published in the Kenya Gazette on 6th September, 2013. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the second question was why the Nairobi County officials were removing registration number plates from matatus, taxis and motorcycles within the Central Business District (CBD). The response is that on 5th March, 2014, the Nairobi City roads became chaotic following protests by a section of the matatu operators over parking charges. As a measure to ensure security and safeguard the rule of law, the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Mr. David Kimaiyo, ordered for the removal and surrender of the number plates of the motorists obstructing roads to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Obstruction of public roads is an offence under the Traffic Act, punishable with up to one year jail term or a fine of up to Kshs50,000 or both. Besides, it is a very dangerous crime that is not only capable of causing very serious losses to business but also puts the security of the City residents in danger. The responsibility of enforcing the criminal law belongs to the Kenya Police Service and the Nairobi City County Government wishes to indicate that it is very grateful for the quick action taken by the police to safeguard innocent citizens from the illegal activities of a few matatu operators. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the third question was when the Nairobi City County government is going to revert to the approved parking charges as per the resolution of the Nairobi City County Assembly and not the exaggerated charges of Kshs300. In response, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}