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{
    "id": 777250,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/777250/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 211,
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    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Many of the people who have lived in the slums are not decent, not because of their choice, but the kind of life that they have faced. They end up choosing a life of crime, drugs and doing other things that we would not wish to associate anyone with. I have read through part of the document and it is my humble opinion that when we have very important Sessional papers or information, they should be availed to the Senators in advance so that they can get a chance to read through. May be it was available in our very usual manner, but I did not get a chance to read it in advance. But I have taken my time to familiarise myself with a few areas in this document and I must say it is well thought out. There are things that I support. However, I will also make a contribution on the areas that I think the drafters of this Sessional Paper need to improve on. When you read through this document, it is the thinking of the drafters and the people who will be implementing these policies that one of the things we need to do to stop this challenge of people living in extremely difficult conditions and informal settlements, is putting up amenities such as good toilets, connection to piped water, etcetera . While that is one of the things that we need to do, I do not agree with them that it ends there. The first thing to do to stop these kinds of challenges is to work on the software of those who have lived through these kinds of challenges. What will happen, for instance, if we pick Kibera and come up with policies of ensuring that the people that live there are provided with good housing? Have we not seen what happened in the first phase of the slum upgrading projects that have been done? You go to the slums and build decent houses for them, but when the time comes for you to relocate the people who were living in the slums to go and live in those houses, they go and rent out those houses and return to the slums. The challenge is the problem of the software which, unfortunately, the drafters of these policies do not seem to understand and address. They should take time to socialise and familiarise themselves with the challenges that these people are living with, train them and let them know that it is their right to live a decent life. It is not God’s intention for anyone to face the kind of difficult life that those who live in the slums do. Upon that realisation that God did not create two worlds; one for those who want to enjoy life and the other one for those who want to struggle, you will find people beginning to appreciate some of these efforts. If you have lived the first 20 years of your life knowing that a toilet is not a basic facility, then when somebody gives you a house, you will look at it as an opportunity to have an extra income. Therefore, the implementers of this policy should look at ways of, first, mentally and socially empowering the people who dwell in these informal settlements, before even thinking about moving them to better amenities. The other area where I feel this document falls short in terms of the issues that it needs to address is that I do not see ways in which our county governments are being encouraged to respond to this menace and challenge that is so fast catching up in our counties. It is no longer even a challenge in our county headquarters alone. When you return to your village, and I know many of the Senators in this House will bear me witness, most of the structures are coming up in trading centres are, by and large, slums. 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."
}