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{
    "id": 837638,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/837638/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 269,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Saku, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ali Rasso",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13473,
        "legal_name": "Dido Ali Raso",
        "slug": "dido-ali-raso"
    },
    "content": "particularly in the criterion for classifying and principles of governance and management of cities and towns, and the participation by the residents. This Bill has come at the right time, when we are moving towards a knowledge-based economy. If we look back in time, at Independence, had we been given the opportunity, Nairobi would not be what it is today. At the heart of the Bill is spatial planning. Without it, it will be difficult to control the upcoming towns, markets, urban centres and mushrooming of low dwellings as they expand as we experience in our country. With spatial planning, a place like Salgaa today would be a big centre because it provides a unique economic hub. But it has not been planned from the beginning. It requires traffic planning to cater for trailer parks. As the town comes up, the population increases. Such a town should be planned in a structured manner. My town, Marsabit was started in 1907. In the recent few months, the Government has put in about Kshs2 billion for new infrastructure like water supply, sewerage system and strong water control. This was not there before. The town’s population is almost spiralling, but it does not have basic and important amenities and infrastructure to support the growing population. The Bill seeks to establish boards. Before, individuals at ministerial or county levels used to be appointed to run towns and municipalities. The structured nature of how the boards will henceforth be employed or put to use will allay fears that funding and other things that will be put into the urban areas by the national Government, the county governments and donors are not likely to be properly accounted for. Finally, among the boards, we have urban development, agriculture and environment. More often than not, we have seen towns and urban areas coming up and taking up prime agricultural land that is important for food production and ignoring the dangers of putting up certain centres in fragile ecosystems. It is important that the three individuals have been identified to be part of that board, going forward. With those remark, I support."
}