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{
    "id": 603338,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/603338/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Abdi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 398,
        "legal_name": "Yusuf Hassan Abdi",
        "slug": "yusuf-hassan-abdi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this discussion. I support the Physical Planning Bill. It is timely that we have a Bill that brings some kind of order in the chaos that we have in our neighborhoods, cities and towns. Physical planning is acritical and an important factor in human settlement and habitation. Well organised and proper planning of human settlements leads to good villages, towns and cities. It leads to a better and healthier life for its citizens. In the colonial times, it was very clear that we had all our settlements in our country with well physical planning and construction undertaken as a matter of rules. I can tell you that today we have the opposite. We have chaotic poorly planned and developed habitats all over our country. I have lived in many cities in the world and I can say without fear of contradiction that Kenya has one of the ugliest buildings and towns in the world. Sometimes you wonder what kind of planning is involved in having some of the structures that I see in our beautiful country. This is an incredibly beautiful country physically. It is one of the best countries in the world in terms of scenery. Whole towns and cities have become dysfunctional, unhealthy and painful to live in, including our capital city. Many modern neighborhoods that I remember when I was growing up here in Nairobi have deteriorated and turned into glorified slums. A good example is the neighborhood in my constituency California. When California was built, it was one of the most beautifully planned urban centers, colorful with all the facilities and well laid down plans. Today, it is more like a glorified slum. There are no gardens, parks and recreational facilities in our cities any more. Every space is built up. So, there is some crisis as far as planning and development is concerned as far as our urban centers are concerned. What we need is livable neighborhoods. We need towns and cities that are beautifully planned and well laid out, that we can all be proud of and can live in very happily. I think another Kenya is possible. It is only possible if the rules that are laid down here very clearly are implemented and enforced by the authorities. I cannot help with the fact that a lot of people here have added---"
}