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"id": 1400881,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400881/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Defence",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
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"content": "Running parks is not our core mandate. This House knows that the Constitution provides that we protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. We only come to do one or two things when we are called upon by the national Government. Tomorrow, I invite the Senator of Nairobi and the leadership of Nairobi. If he did not get the invitation, we will send an invitation. He should come and take over his Park, alongside the County Government of Nairobi."
},
{
"id": 1400882,
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"text_counter": 43,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Applause)"
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{
"id": 1400883,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400883/?format=api",
"text_counter": 44,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Defence",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, as mentioned earlier, the works at Uhuru Park have been completed as per the contract, with only minimal works remaining for the Central Park. However, the military in collaboration with the County Government of Nairobi has been allowing the public to use this facility on occasions and functions, including the inaugural Nairobi Festival of December, 2022, the launch of World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally of June, 2023, the Community Health Promoters launch by the President in September, 2023, the Christmas and New Year festivities to citizens of Nairobi. The last one was the Private Security Regulatory Authority launch of guard force number, March, 2024, that was done barely a month ago. The maintenance of the Park is, however, faced with challenges. For example, during last year’s Christmas festivities, we opened Uhuru Park to the public, in consultation with the Governor of Nairobi. However, there was resultant damage to some of the structures we have done, including the aircraft we have stationed on the ground. That aircraft is supposed to be turned into a fast food court. The good thing is that we told the governor that we are not going to hand over until that damage is rectified. We are happy to report that Nairobi County Government has rectified those facilities. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1400884,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400884/?format=api",
"text_counter": 45,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Defence",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
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"content": "Consequently, the Ministry is collaborating with the County Government of Nairobi to establish the management modalities for the parks before the official opening. The rehabilitation of the parks was geared towards enhancing visitors' experience by ensuring the parks meets globally accepted standards. The works undertaken in the Parks include the following (what we have done since we took that project): Creation, improvement and sprucing up of green spaces, gardens and lawns, the introduction of control access points and enhanced security through gates and fences, setting up of container restaurants, mainly fast food, creation of a skating park, innovation of a culturally symbolic Nyatiti water feature for events, setting up of outdoor libraries and reading areas. We expect that during lunchtime Kenyans can walk to that park to spend an hour. We have put benches there. We expect the Nairobi County Government to put Wi-Fi, so that people can have a one-hour break from conferences in the hotels around there. If you want to go and stretch your legs, you can just walk to the park and read your book, send emails and have a very good ambience environment. We have also set up outdoor plazas and shelter gardens. We have done a creation of water cascade. We have built enough ablution facilities designated for both genders. We have improved and done additional walkways and jogging tracks. Mr. Speaker, Sir, even this Parliament should have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nairobi County Government; that in the evening, Senators and MPs after the gym, those who want to walk can cross to Uhuru Park and walk or jog early in the morning because the air and the environment is welcoming. Of course, the cost of the project for both Uhuru and the Central Park was Kshs1.18 billion. The Nairobi County Government in future must do two things: One, to sustain and maintain the standards. Our biggest fear is for this Park to go back to its old situation. We expect Nairobi County to have competent men and women and for people to learn from other countries on how parks are run. Two, to allocate budget and funds for the proposed additional facilities which were not in the contract, but which we feel are very important. These works are estimated to be about Kshs550 million or less. There is a plan to do a dancing water fountain and CCTV installation, which is very key for security purposes. We want to do a pedestrian footbridge and maybe add more restaurants in the future and do a proper management office. Mr. Speaker, Sir, to make sure that we help the Governor and the county, we have agreed that we will let our technical team stay with him for the next six to eight months. These are expert engineers, architects and landscapers from the Ministry of Defence who participated in this project. We have asked the Governor that we do an MoU with him tomorrow that we leave the site within six months, to show him support in case there is a small problem during the transition. We told him that our team is to help them acclimatize. Already his people, the Nairobi County Government staff, are doing good work in terms of cleaning, cutting the grass and maintaining cleanliness. During this transition period, we will supervise the Nairobi County Government to ensure that they complete the installation of the associated facilities to further enhance The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
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{
"id": 1400885,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400885/?format=api",
"text_counter": 46,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Aden Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Defence",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
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"content": "visitors' experience. This MoU will officially be signed tomorrow as we hand over the park to Nairobi County Government for opening to the public, I hope over the weekend. We have installed a very good entrance gate management system and we expect that at least the Uhuru Park to be free to the public and maybe for Central Park, Nairobi County Government, with the stakeholders, can agree on what they can charge but, of course, very minimal. We have made a provision in Central Park for a security police post. Globally, these parks must have security. We do not want our daughters, sons, family or citizens to be victims of insecurity when they are enjoying the ambiance of the Park. There is a facility at the far end of Central Park, so we will ask the Inspector General of Police in consultation with the stakeholders and Nairobi County Government to provide a small police post. Hon. Members, I would like to reaffirm that the Ministry of Defence is committed to ensuring that the parks are not only open to the public, but also adequately maintained by a very robust management team, and that should be provided by the county leadership of Nairobi. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to assure the Senate and, indeed, the entire public that the Ministry of Defence is committed to fulfilling our obligations and ensuring that all the pending works within the Central Park are completed within the shortest time possible, and is also open to the public. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1400886,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400886/?format=api",
"text_counter": 47,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. Senator for Nairobi, Hon. Sifuna, do you have any supplementary questions?"
},
{
"id": 1400887,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400887/?format=api",
"text_counter": 48,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
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"content": "Yes, indeed, Mr. Speaker, Sir. First, I thank the Cabinet Secretary for that comprehensive response. However, the Cabinet Secretary perhaps could advise his team that they should also be responding to correspondence from Senators. I did write to you in February and all these could have been responded to in writing. I do not know what sort of correspondence management system you have at the Ministry of Defence, but it needs improvement. Number two, it is a terrible indictment on the capacity of the Nairobi County if the Ministry of Defence is doubting our ability to manage a park. It just breaks my heart to hear some of these things. First, hon. Cabinet Secretary, I had the occasion to visit this Park in October, 2023. You have spoken about maintenance of monuments. I want to know the rationale for the demolition of the main pavilion where we used to address our supporters from because I believe that was also a monument that needed to be preserved. Number two, you have spoken of a visitor's management system that has been developed by the Ministry. I want to know if that system will be managed by the Ministry or you will be handing it over to the Nairobi City County Government for further use. It would have been nice if the House could have had sight of the sort of MoU that we expect to be signed tomorrow. I am a worried Senator given the reservations that have been expressed by the Cabinet Secretary on our capacity; that, in fact, these works have just been delayed by two things. The connection of water and improvement of drainage works is what has kept the people of Nairobi away from their Park for almost two years. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
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"id": 1400888,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400888/?format=api",
"text_counter": 49,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Sifuna",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13599,
"legal_name": "Sifuna Edwin Watenya",
"slug": "sifuna-edwin-watenya"
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"content": "I want the Cabinet Secretary, if he can just tell us very briefly about the contents of that MoU. We understand that under the Constitution, if there is going to be a transfer of functions between county governments, there needs to be a solid agreement as to what that entails. I thank you."
},
{
"id": 1400889,
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"text_counter": 50,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond."
},
{
"id": 1400890,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1400890/?format=api",
"text_counter": 51,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Duale",
"speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Defence",
"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
"slug": "aden-duale"
},
"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, many years back, I was a founder member of the ODM Party."
}
]
}