HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 445328,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/445328/?format=api",
"text_counter": 232,
"type": "other",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "at what they mean by “small towns,” it is Nakuru, Nyeri, and Malindi. These are big cities or municipalities. The real small towns have always been left out. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there has also been the Fuel Levy Fund, which the Government had set up many years ago. Traditionally, it was for cities and municipalities until 1999 when the Government came up with the Kenya Roads Board. I think it was the Eighth Parliament that actually forced some funds to come out of the Fuel Levy Fund to go to some roads found in the constituencies. We came up with the District Roads Committees (DRC). I believe that even then, there was so much opposition to any money going to those grassroots areas that some people went to court. In fact, those of us who were there by then had to battle a court case for a whole year just to allow some funds to go to the grassroots level. Luckily, the good judge ruled that there was nothing unconstitutional or wrong, and we went on. It is now what later on translated into KeRRA. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the small towns remained and when devolution came into effect last year small towns were also left out. What the Mover of the Motion is asking for, which I think is very reasonable is that KURA should not be confined to municipalities, the big cities or towns. It should bring on board small towns, more so those which have now become county headquarters. As the seconder of the Motion ably pointed, most counties inherited what used to be municipalities, but a number of them ended up in headquarters or towns where there was no municipality. So, there are no tarmacked roads and other essential services. I am asking the House to see the light and pass this Motion because it is asking that those small towns which are headquarters to counties be taken on board because they have potential of being upgraded to municipal status. The Mover wants all the good intentions extended to all small towns so that they are not left out like it has happened since Independence. For purposes of going forward, because we are now stagnant, places like Nyandarua County where I come from, we are held up in Ol Kalou Town which was a town council. It was not covered under the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF) and whatever little money allocated was only used for administration. It is also not covered under KURA. Therefore, for purposes of starting somewhere, we suggest that the small towns which are headquarters to counties be covered under KURA. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I conclude my few remarks, I would urge the Mover of the Motion, maybe, in conjunction with the relevant Committee in the Senate, to relook at the KRB which finances KURA, so that the law is revisited to officially include small towns. The future of the economy of the nation has to be urban economy. We cannot be rural, rural and rural. We have to move forward. Therefore, for the small towns to be included, we must put it in law. For now, I urge the House to support this Motion. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}