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{
    "id": 721943,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/721943/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 144,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Barua",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1529,
        "legal_name": "Ejidius Njogu Barua",
        "slug": "ejidius-njogu-barua"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to make my contribution to the Policy Paper. This is the Sessional Paper No.2 on the National Building Maintenance Policy. To begin with, I support the Policy Paper which is long overdue. It should have been tabled a long time ago. When I look at Nairobi and its environs, just like any one of us, you can see the type of uncoordinated buildings that we have constructed. Some buildings in some estates are not maintainable - if there is a term of that nature. Starting from construction, some buildings have been put up without following the laid-down regulations. They have been put on some fragile ecosystems and environment which means that even maintaining them is a big issue. Before we even talk about the maintenance of buildings, we need to look at the building policy in general. It should state clearly what type of buildings should appear in certain areas, giving provisions to all necessary amenities like open spaces and children playgrounds as well as creating access in case of emergencies. I worked at the Housing and Building Research Institute at the University of Nairobi for several years and at the School of the Built Environment and there is a wealth of research which stays unutilised. Students and lecturers have conducted research on building maintenance for over 20 or 30 years. That information is lying at the University of Nairobi, other universities in Kenya and abroad because the area has been properly researched. I want to bring in the issue of science policy dialogue. For us to move ahead as a nation, we need to integrate the scientific knowledge with practice. That is why as we talk about maintenance, we should make an effort to adopt the modern maintenance technology, so that we can save costs and get the most effective ways of doing things. As we move on, I am sure the policy calls for inter-institutional collaboration so that we can come up with the best strategy possible to ensure that the money we invest in research is not wasted, but the outcome of research is applied in our day to day lives. Looking at the policy, I am happy to note that it talks about guidelines that will guide both public and private investors. That is very important. As we invest in this built environment, we need to invest and put up buildings which fit the use they are intended for. 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."
}