Kenya’s push to modernize infrastructure has taken a significant leap with the introduction of the National Addressing Bill, sponsored by Kiambu Town MP John Machua Waithaka.
Appearing before the Communication, Information and Innovation National Assembly Committee, chaired by Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, MP Waithaka outlined the bill’s potential to revolutionize emergency response services, revive the postal system, and boost the economy.
The bill proposes a standardized system for assigning unique addresses to every household, business, and institution in Kenya.
According to Waithaka, this will enhance the efficiency of emergency services, enabling quicker response times from ambulances, fire services, and police.
“With this system, we will save lives by making it easier for responders to locate those in need,” he said.
In addition, the lawmaker emphasized the revival of the Postal Services, which will be crucial in a growing e-commerce landscape. The system, he says, will also facilitate tax collection, improving revenue streams for counties and supporting local development projects.
Moreover, the implementation process is expected to create jobs in sectors such as tech, mapping, and logistics.
MP Kiarie suggested that leveraging existing technology, such as Google’s open-source mapping system, could reduce the estimated Ksh 2 billion budget.
However, questions were raised about the bill’s feasibility. MP Kiarie commended his counterpart’s initiative but questioned why similar efforts had failed in the past.
“There have been previous efforts that didn’t work, how will this be any different?” he asked.
Mbooni MP Erastus Kivasu raised a concern on the barriers that hindered previous addressing systems, pointing to implementation failures as the main cause.
“What deters the National Addressing system from full implementation? It was started and it failed before,” he pointed out.
Several members, including Hon. Mayaka and Hon. Jematiah, echoed the importance of implementation and partnerships with GPS and Google Maps to ensure success.
Jematiah noted that the system could significantly improve infrastructure, particularly in housing development.
Despite concerns over past failures, Waithaka remains optimistic that the bill is structured to avoid previous pitfalls.
If successful, the National Addressing Bill could pave the way for economic growth and improved service delivery, marking a critical step in Kenya’s digital transformation.
