Kiambu MP Tables Bill to Create National Address System for Kenya

The Kiambu member of Parliament Machua Waithaka has introduced a new bill that aims to establish a standardized system for assigning unique addresses to every household, business, and institution in Kenya.

The primary objective, as emphasized by Waithaka during his presentation, is to enhance the efficiency of emergency services by enabling faster response times for ambulances, fire services, and police. The proposed addressing system is expected to have far-reaching benefits beyond emergency services. Waithaka highlights its potential to revitalize postal services which he believes will play a crucial role in the growing e-commerce landscape. Furthermore, the lawmaker states that the system could facilitate improved tax collection, boost revenue streams for counties, and support local development projects. The implementation process itself is anticipated to generate employment opportunities in various sectors, including technology, mapping, and logistics.

During the committee proceedings, John Kiarie, a member of the committee who chaired the session, suggested leveraging existing technology such as Google’s open-source mapping system to potentially reduce the estimated budget of Sh 2 billion. However, Kiarie also raised concerns about the feasibility of the bill, citing the failure of previous attempts to implement similar systems. Another committee member Erastus Kivasu echoed these concerns, questioning the barriers that had hindered previous addressing systems and pointing to implementation failures as the main cause. In response to these apprehensions, Waithaka expresses confidence that the current bill is structured to avoid past pitfalls.

He highlights a key provision in the legislation for the formation of a dedicated council tasked with ensuring the system’s successful implementation. This council will be responsible for creating and managing a national addressing system that is logical, unambiguous, reliable, updatable, affordable, accessible, sustainable, and accountable. The proposed system is expected to have wide-ranging benefits, including promoting better planning and provision of essential services. It will enable agencies to capture, store, manage, and exchange address information efficiently, thereby facilitating e-commerce through improved delivery of goods and services.

Waithaka emphasizes the current difficulties faced by emergency services due to the lack of proper addresses and unnamed streets across much of the country. In addition to its practical applications, the bill includes measures to ensure integrity in the naming process. Streets, buildings, and places will be named after individuals who meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution. The legislation also provides a mechanism for residents to petition for the renaming of their areas, requiring at least 300 signatures from the locality. The council will also be tasked with promoting technological advancements, including digital mapping to ensure the system’s success. Waithaka stresses that the bill is designed to create a sustainable and accountable addressing system that will benefit all Kenyans.