Governors allocated Sh800m for houses

A parliamentary committee has asked the Treasury to allocate Sh800 million for houses of senators and governors in all 47 counties.

The money will be used to pay rent for the first six months after the leaders are sworn in.

Parliament’s Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing has also proposed that Sh3.2 billion be set aside for the government to acquire two prime high-rise buildings in Nairobi’s Central Business District.

Those on the government’s acquisition radar are View Park and Hazina towers.

They asked the government to come up with rules to “harmonise leasing of government houses and residential accommodation to ensure that there is no payment for used and under-used space to reduce the rent bill.”

The government’s rent bill currently stands at Sh2 billion every year.

Due to the pressure on land and housing as a result of devolution, MPs recommended that the government should ensure that it has all its title deeds.

“It should also intensify the process of recovering illegally acquired houses and land to ensure that it is all reverted back to the ministry,” the MPs said.

The committee has poured billions into the Ministry of Transport. They want Sh1.2 billion to be set aside for two new ferries and Sh1 billion for the second container terminal at the Port of Mombasa. The MPs have also asked for Sh4 billion for dredging of the Kilindini harbour.

The MPs want Sh2 billion more earmarked strictly for the construction of three berths and a causeway and have also requested for Sh3.5 billion to develop a Standard Gauge Railway agreed upon between Kenya and Uganda.

To prevent road accidents, Sh600 million was allocated to among others, mark roads and conduct awareness campaigns.

The committee wants the Transport docket given Sh800 million to complete the Isiolo International Airport, Sh400 million for Olentare airport and the same amount for the development of Nakuru airport.

The MPs proposed that Sh700 million be set aside for a runway at JKIA.