Sakaja covid-19 bill; landlords to agree with tenants on rent terms.

  Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja

A month down the line since the covid-19 thud hit us, parliament had not conducted any formal sitting to discuss measures to handle the pandemic. MPs have since been accused of abandoning Kenyans in times of crisis. After series of public uproar, parliament resumed and Senate already began with the Covid-19 Pandemic Bill.

The Covid-19 Pandemic Bill was proposed by Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja. It aims at putting in strategies to cushion the most vulnerable citizens from the harsh economic impacts of Covid-19. However, the bill as moved by Sakaja seems to put greater emphasis on cushioning the Tenants as well as landlords who he said should be cushioned in equal measure.
" We look forward to protecting the landlords too, they've also been hit adversely," he said.

Expounding on the bill, Sakaja said the bill seeks to provide an avenue where the landlords and tenants can negotiate and agree on rent payment terms friendly to both of them.
" The landlord, based on the agreement can decide to waiver the rent for a given period or reduce it by a given amount, " he said during an interview at  milele fm on Friday. He however urged those able to pay rent to do so, even as we wait to pass the bill in the next few days.

The bill also has particular recommendations to protect the landlords. It suggests that banks should forgive mortgages and offer interest free loans to landlords so that they don't suffer for losses to unpaid rents.

In further suggestions, Senator Sakaja in the bill wants government to use huduma number data to identify vulnerable households and send them weekly stipends.
" The government has the ability to send money to every Kenyan via Mpesa at the touch of a button, " he jokingly explained.

Sakaja also wants those in informal economy sector to be given disbursement. He says maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board to be grinded and floor distributed to the vulnerable.

The bill however does not touch on pay cuts. The Senate instead  committed Ksh. 200M as contribution to the fight against Covid-19. National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale and Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier rejected the pay cut appeal by the President.

As most will say, Sakaja is being populist, but I say he is a populist who is progressive. Any policy  that uplifts the living standards of the most vulnerable in the society deserves unconditional support.

Victor Oyuko
Blogger