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{
    "id": 775992,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/775992/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 251,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13465,
        "legal_name": "Paul Otiende Amollo",
        "slug": "paul-otiende-amollo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion on the adoption of Sessional Paper No.3 of 2016 on the National Housing Policy. I support it not because it is a priority area for the Jubilee Administration, but first, because it is the right thing to do. I support this Motion because it accords with Article 43 that makes housing a right. Article 43 is one of those unique rights that place an obligation on the State to provide under Article 21. It is my view, adopting this Sessional Paper will go a long way towards facilitating the State to provide housing for its citizens. I support this Motion because I recognise that on page 17 of the Sessional Paper, it endeavours to provide low-cost rural housing. As a practising champion of low cost rural housing project in the constituency, what we have dubbed ondoa nyasi, I recognise that it is important to focus on housing not just in the urban areas, but also in the rural areas. Recognising that the NG-CDF Act does not allow us to use those funds for such endeavours, it is therefore important that we are able to find funding if not from our private sources then at least from other State resources. I want to inform Members; those Members who may have been concerned as I had earlier, that perhaps this Sessional Paper was not produced after due consultation. I am personally aware that there were due consultations. As a former ombudsman, I know that it is captured on the foreword by the CS that consultations began in 2012 and came through culminating in a national symposium. So, if ever there was a paper that was produced after consultation, this Sessional Paper is one. Having said that, there are four areas that might need greater focus. For example, Page 13 of this Sessional Paper mentions the draft Housing Bill, 2016. This Sessional Paper is merely a policy document. For it to have proper light of day, we will need to pass a legislation. It behoves us to fast-track the passage of the Housing Bill, which has been lying since 2016. It also makes mention on the same page of the Landlord and Tenant Bill, 2007. For 11 years now, we have had on the table an effort to merge the Landlord and Tenant Tribunal and the Business Premises Tribunal. These are two parallel tribunals that endeavour to do the same thing in a different way. It is unnecessary duplication. I urge that we bring forth that Bill so that we result in one tribunal that will address business and private tenants. At some appropriate time, as a House, we may need to refocus on this matter. As we look at rural housing, one of the issues that come with rural housing are the facilities and amenities – principally water and electricity. In this country, what will help us out ultimately is solar energy. We have a restrictive regime of laws that appear to encourage us only to get electricity from dams and such other places through the national grid and appear to restrict those who want to invest in solar energy at any level. We will need to re-examine this so that we encourage everybody to invest in solar energy as a necessary complement to rural housing. Lastly, there is the question of expired leases, principally in Nairobi but generally in this country. Given the regime of laws that we have, almost all the leases that were granted about 100 The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}