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{
    "id": 677703,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/677703/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am aware because I have been in consultation with the relevant Committee and it has taken time to ensure that the differential roles that are created for national Government and county governments have been respected. The Chair assured me yesterday that they have prepared not less than 10 amendments to ensure that it is respected to strengthen the existing Bill. Part (2) deals with establishment, functions and powers of the institutions that will assist in physical planning in our country. These include the National physical Planning Consultative Forum, the Cabinet Secretary, the National Lands Commission - because of the powers vested upon the Commission under Article 67(2) of the Constitution - the National Director of Physical Planning and the County Physical Planning Consultative Forum. In other words, you have the National Physical Planning Consultative Forum but you also have the County Physical Planning Consultative Forum to bring together key stakeholders to ensure that physical planning is harmonized and there is a synergy between the planning by the national government as well as the planning done by the county government. The county will have to do its own physical planning. So, there is a difference between planning by counties as well as planning by the national Government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the issue of physical planning has become one of the biggest challenges that we have had as a country since Independence. Our towns are poorly planned, we have roads which have been encroached into because the road reserves have not been marked and permanently protected from encroachment. We have towns all over the country that have poor sewerage except a few towns. I can give an example of towns which although the infrastructure is still below standards, I think it gives a semblance of a planned town; that is Thika and Nakuru towns. When you go to Nakuru or Thika, you will find a certain area designated as an industrial area. I think that has been respected largely. The issue of sewerage and other infrastructure has a bit of mess but at least in the towns I have identified, you will find good high-end areas, medium-end areas and low- end areas for low income earners. Although I do not agree with the nomenclature that we normally give because you will find in Nakuru, for example, one place which is elevated to be called Milimani where the rich stay and you have another place for low income earners called Bondeni which is in a valley somewhere. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that notwithstanding, there is need to ensure that our physical planning meets international standards. Time has come for this country to develop a more sophisticated and modern physical planning model. In fact, even in the teaching in our universities, very little attention has been given on physical planning studies and I hope going forward, this is an area that our children can concentrate in and develop careers around it. I know that because of devolution, you are likely to see more urban centers of growth emerge in our country. I know a number of counties, for example, Taita Taveta County, Tharaka-Nithi County, Laikipia County, Nyandarua County, Tana River County and Kirinyaga County where residents have agreed that their county headquarters is going to be away from the traditional big towns under the former districts. 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"
}