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{
    "id": 774282,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/774282/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 129,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "set good precedence that we can borrow from each other. If you listened keenly to the many of the contributions that have been made in this House, it is becoming clear that environmental degradation is becoming a matter of great national concern to all the Senators. Hardly does an afternoon pass without somebody rising to ask a question about the need to vary boundaries of a forest or how to protect our riparian lands and so on. When we have a proper city and center managers, as has been proposed in this Bill, these will be things of the past. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I draw to a conclusion, Section 9 (13) of the 2011 Act that is being amended by this Bill states that: “A town is eligible for conferment of municipal status under this Act if the town satisfies the following criteria.” This follows a very good debate that we have had within our country. We know that we have three cities; Mombasa, Kisumu and Nairobi. Many times certain people do not agree with the criteria of upgrading a municipality to a city. From now henceforth, that will be a thing of the past. At the county level, as the governor budgets and sets up departmental budgets, say the Department of Housing and Urban Upgrading, there is a set criteria. For example, if a certain center meets certain requirements, including a working water system and good sewage system that is functional, then it can be upgraded from a center to a town. That will motivate many people to develop their center to meet these requirements. There should be a motivation. For example, if you qualify to move from a centre to a town, it should improve your allocation from the county government of urban planning and management kitty. That will encourage many county governments to take into consideration this matter of great national importance. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is not proper to set the criteria of how county towns can qualify to be upgraded to municipalities and the very office that is supposed to do oversight in counties - either the office of the Member of County Assembly (MCA) or that of the Senator - is not represented in those boards. It would be ideal if either the MCAs or representation from the office of the Senator sits in some of the boards. If this is not done, we will end up with a team of people who are nominated by the county governor determining who gets to be upgraded or downgraded. I urge the drafters of this Bill to involve other leaders who understand the operations and the work of county governments in these boards. This will give the boards a better meaning and understanding of the work they are supposed to do. With those few remarks, I support."
}