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{
    "id": 774292,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/774292/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 139,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Poghisio",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 202,
        "legal_name": "Samuel Losuron Poghisio",
        "slug": "samuel-poghisio"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a majority sponsored amendment Bill. There is already in existence a law that governs urban areas and cities. This bill seeks to amend that law and it is our opportunity to amend it. We are coming up to the Committee stage where we can amend. It is an opportunity for us to change the criteria and the categorization of our towns, cities and urban areas and plan them better. I do not see the controversy in the Government side bringing a Bill that can cover and allow people to get back to orderly and well serviced towns, urban areas and cities. I therefore have no hesitation in supporting this amendment and I ask that we use this opportunity. If we do not like the figures or population numbers, we can change and amend. If you do not like the titles or the management levels or styles, this is the opportunity. I thought we should be congratulated, as a side for even bringing this to the public so that we can amend the Act. I know that it is a bit controversial. My thinking is that cities do not have to be limited in numbers or defined by the number of people who live there. Some cities have people permanently living there while others have a higher population during the day than the night and do not necessarily need to be defined by the number of people who live there. They are about management, and getting the very basic services. If Kapenguria had a sewerage system and a water supply, people would move there, buy land and build better houses. Cities will develop if we set the right criteria. We are going back to a situation where we have centres called municipalities. In those days, when Sen. (Prof.) Ongeri was Minister for Local Government, there were many municipalities and people would go and ask the Minister if their area would become a municipality and many times the answer would say; ‘okay, you can be a municipality’. However, there were no services that were in tandem with the name municipality. Then there was the municipality council that created more politicians. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Bill amends all that and deals with the management. How do you call those people who manage the town and the city or the urban areas? Give them opportunities to change and serve in the capacities. Qualifications are being provided for now. You can be in a town council or committee if you have a certain level of education. If it is an urban area, your qualifications are higher and for a city your academic 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."
}