Committee Tours Kenya’s Permanent Mission the UN Habitat
The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee has today visited Kenya’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Habitat in Nairobi, as part of its routine oversight mandate.
Members, led by Hon. Elijah Memusi (Kajiado-Central); who chaired the day’s session were at the Mission to assess the progress made and challenges faced in execution of it’s mandate, and opportunities available for the Country, through the Mission’s activities.
The main mandate of the Kenya Permanent Mission to the UN-Habitat in Nairobi is to articulate and advance Kenya’s interests in the UN with a particular focus on sustainable urbanization and human settlement agenda.
Members, raised several issues of concern in the sector of sustainable and decent housing as well as on the proliferation informal settlements in major urban centres across the Country.
Hon. Memusi asked if the Mission had any strategy to incorporate Parliament in drafting a regulation to ensure that emerging urban centres have access to all necessary social amenities.
“Have you thought of such a proposal and are there any plans to approach Parliament to draft such a regulation to handle such challenges in emerging towns such as Kitengela?” posed Hon. Memusi, citing the example of such regulations in countries like South Africa.
The Permanent Representive to the Mission Ambassador Jean Kimani told Members that she and her technical team would work closely with Parliament to deal with the issue and other emerging challenges facing Kenyans in enhancing sustainable urbanization and human settlement agenda.
Other issues raised include on the rehabilitation efforts of Nairobi River, and the continued existence of Human activities that hampers these efforts.
The Mission Permanent Representative also took Members on a guided tour of the facility.
In April this year, the Committee also visited Kenya’s mission to the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON).
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