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{
    "id": 451001,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/451001/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 226,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ichung’wah",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1835,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Kimani Ichung'Wah",
        "slug": "anthony-kimani-ichungwah"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Speaker. I rise, as others have said, to support certain provisions of these amendments and also be very cautious on others. I wish to, particularly, draw the attention of Members to what is called Urban Areas and Cities Act and the amendments that have been proposed. From the outset, it really looks harmless in terms of allowing governors to confer status of special municipality to their county headquarters. I am sure when I speak about county headquarters, the people from the county where I hail from, will understand why we would be very keen on conferring certain status to a few towns at the expense of others. Those amendments may seem harmless. However, a provision that has been proposed in that amendment is that it would empower urban areas and cities to impose rates and charges under the national law. It is supposed to be in force for the time being until a new law is enacted in that regard. It also enables such cities and urban areas to collect revenue in the interim period before their own county legislation is enacted. For me, I find this particularly dangerous especially to the people that we represent and, more so, for areas where trade and industry is what drives the economies of those countries. I know, as a Member of Parliament from Kiambu County, we have had issues with enacting the Finance Bill in our county. The Finance Bill was actually thrown out by the High Court in this country. If by any chance we allowed such local authorities to impose rates and such charges on the people and the business community in those areas without actual legislation where the people have been given an opportunity to participate in the legislation, it would be very dangerous for this country. Businesses will be run down in the counties. There is also the Transition to Devolved Government Act which I also want us to be very cautious about and, more so, bearing in mind that we have been accused - as a National Assembly and national Government - of being anti-devolution. It is high time we stood firmly for devolution and not get involved in the cat fights between Cabinet Secretaries and the Transition Authority. Probably - and we have seen that - there are a few of those people who power has started getting into their heads. It is the fights with the Transition Authority that we should be cautious, as a House, not to be drawn into. We should stand for the posterity of this nation. Let us allow the Transition Authority to fulfill its mandate under the new Constitution. On the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA) Act as the hon. Member for Mbita, hon. Odhiambo-Mabona has mentioned, together with a member of The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}