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{
    "id": 45873,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/45873/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 300,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Muriithi",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Industrialisation",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 91,
        "legal_name": "Ndiritu Muriithi",
        "slug": "ndiritu-muriithi"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the question of building and the point of professionalizing the companies and works has already been spoken about but it goes just beyond professionalizing. There is the question, for example, of equipment and the ability of local contractors to put proper and significant pieces of construction equipment on which they can be able to tender. Therefore, this will enable us create a platform as Government, in order to positively respond, because we know the challenges that they face and so we cannot blame the local contractors. We must respond as Government in a way that we should, which is to create a programme to improve their lot. Right now, without doubt, the country has significant challenges in terms of supplying housing stock. In the area of housing, it is not just the volume or the number of houses we can deliver into the economy per year. It goes also to the quality of stock and the standards of quality. This country has a significant shortfall in the quality of housing stock that is brought into the market that is significant and that financiers are able to give mortgages against. This has something to do with our ability and the quality of our construction industry. That is why this piece of legislation is important so that we do not just leave it to our own pledges as a nation in terms of providing adequate housing but provide adequate housing that is of good quality. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one of the key areas is the question of having the right set of skills that are certified. As a citizen of Kenya, if you are building a house or engaged in construction, you can be certain that the people that you contract as key trades people; whether it is plumbing or electrical, among others, give you value for money. I am sure that it is not lost to Kenyans if you go further into the last 36 months, you will see a significant rise in the rates of masons. We have moved from paying masons Kshs400 per day to Kshs1,000 a day in most urban areas. The reason for this is a simple case of supply and demand. There are many buildings coming up, but we do not have the requisite number of certified masons and, therefore, the rates end up going up significantly. This also applies to the other trades. In order to expand tertiary education, we had to convert a variety of middle level colleges including polytechnics into universities. This has created a void which we must fill. But to do so, it is necessary to have an Authority that can be able to say that this is the kind of curriculum we need in our middle level colleges in order to serve the construction industry. Finally, the world over when you measure economic activity, construction sites or the number of new buildings coming up is a key indicator of economic activity. Indeed, in most urban centres, there is evidence of significant economic activities. Therefore, the creation of a platform that ensures quality will ensure that this country gets value for money. With those remarks, I beg to support."
}