President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday signed three Bills at State House, Nairobi, one of which redefines city status.
The three Bills which were presented to the President are; The Urban Areas and Cities (Amendment) Bill 2017, The Petroleum Bill 2017 and the Energy Bill 2017.
While assenting into law the Urban Areas and Cities Amendment Bill, President Kenyatta commended the Senate for acting with speed in passing laws which are intended to accelerate the efficient and quality service delivery to wananchi through the devolved units.
The new law would enable County Governments to review the criteria provided for classifying an area as a city, municipality, town or market centre.
Under the new law, the number of the resident population required for a city has been reduced by half from 500,000 to 250,000 people.
The same law also allows a county to declare an urban area a municipality if it has a resident population of at least 50,000 residents while for an area to be declared a town it has to have at least a population of 10,000 residents whereas a market centre would only require 2,000 residents.
The law proposes establishment of boards to govern and manage cities and municipalities and also outlines specific requirements of those who will be appointed to manage the concerned boards.
The new Energy Law, among other things, proposes the establishment of three key national energy entities to manage and regulate energy resources in the country.
The law establishes the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation and the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority will be mandated to regulate generation, importation, exportation, transmission, distribution, supply and usage of electrical energy with the exception of licensing of nuclear facilities.
It will also be required to regulate importation, refining, exportation, transportation, storage and sale of petroleum and petroleum products with the exception of crude oil.
The Authority will also be required to manage production, conversion, distribution, supply, marketing and usage of renewable energy.
The Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation shall be responsible for, among other things, to oversee the implementation of the Rural Electrification Programme, manage the Rural Electrification Programme Fund and also source for additional funds for the Rural Electrification Programme and renewable energy.
The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency will under the new law be mandated to propose policies and legislation necessary for the successful implementation of a nuclear power programme.
The agency would be required to undertake extensive public education and awareness on Kenya’s nuclear power programme.
The 2017 Petroleum Bill that was assented into law by the President will provide a framework for contracting, exploring, developing and producing petroleum.
The new law would also be used to formulate national petroleum policy and conduct petroleum operations. It will be a reference point in the establishment of petroleum institutions.
Under the new law, the national government, county governments and local communities shall receive a fair share of benefit from revenues emanating from petroleum operations.
A county government is to receive a share equivalent to twenty percent of the national government’s share while local communities will receive a share equivalent to five percent of the national government share.
Parliament is tasked with reviewing of percentages within ten years to take into consideration any adjustments needed.
Present during the signing of the three Bills were Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ken Lusaka, majority leader in the National Assembly Aden Duale, and his Senate counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen.
Senate Minority leader James Orengo, the Clerk to The National Assembly Michael Sialai and his Senate counterpart Jeremiah Nyegenye were also in attendance.
By PSCU
