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{
    "id": 971491,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/971491/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 236,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "In the case of Kibwezi, the CSR activity should help to create employment for the youth of Kibwezi. If there are children who are not able to go to school because their parents cannot afford to pay school fees, it is a good thing for an organisation to even pay fees for these children. All organisations, especially contractors, should embrace CSR activities. When contractors are given a job anywhere, they should be considerate of the community they are working within. The community should be able to say that a particular organisation worked in this area, and as a result of that, so many children benefited by going to school, and some even graduated courtesy of the organisation. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, another observation made by the Committee was that there was delayed compensation for residents whose land was taken away. Constitutionally, if the Government repossesses land from Kenyans, it is in their best interest that they are compensated. The compensation should be at market value, and not under-value. When you take a family’s land, you are already disadvantaging the family, which has probably lived on that land for 10 or even 20 years, and does not know any other home. If you just tell them that you are taking away their land because you want to develop roads and do not give an ultimate solution that is pleasant to the family, then we are not doing well as a Government. There is need for the Government to compensate families that have surrendered their land for the purpose of road construction. Yes, a road is good for development, but that compensation should be at market value. Land is very important and is cherished by everyone in all communities. Land is a factor of production, and without it, there is little that one can do. When you have land, it is possible to erect factories, plant crops or do anything within your means to develop that land. You develop that land so that you can help yourself and your family. If your land is just taken away and the compensation does not factor in the market value, it becomes stressful to the head of the family because it renders him helpless. When land is taken and there is no compensation, the children will look at the head of the family and wonder why their father or mother did not do anything to ensure that they were compensated. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this can also lead to children feeling insecure. The Constitution clearly says that the State should provide security for everyone in this country, even those people who are vulnerable and not able to provide security for themselves. Article 43(3) of the Constitution says that the State should provide security. The Government should be able to step in, as the Committee has recommended, and ensure that it compensates the families affected by the road construction. The Committee also realised that some people were unfairly compensated. There were cases where houses had cracks and the owners were compensated Kshs800 for a bag of cement. Surely, who can do that? This is very unfair. If someone is given Kshs800 for a bag of cement, you have to buy sand and pay for labour. That crack can even destroy the house further. There should be fair compensation. As contractors put money in their pockets, they should also remember that there are Kenyans who have given their land for purposes of road construction and should be compensated well."
}