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{
"id": 1571982,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571982/?format=api",
"text_counter": 203,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Martha Wangari",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Member for Laikipia County."
},
{
"id": 1571983,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571983/?format=api",
"text_counter": 204,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Laikipia County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jane Kagiri",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to support this Amendment Bill. As I stand in support of this amendment, I am reminded of my childhood when I was excited to attend a boarding secondary school. Unfortunately, during those years, Laikipia County did not have a boarding secondary school for girls, so my parents had to send me to another county for my secondary education. Over the years, I have often wondered what had caused the lack of schools in our area. Laikipia County has long been neglected, and we are one of the counties that seek equalisation due to historical injustices. Years later, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) was introduced. Today, I can proudly refer to NG-CDF as the equaliser in this country. Due to the efforts of the Members of Parliament elected in Laikipia, we can now take pride in having boarding schools for both boys and girls in our county. Furthermore, many needy students have gone through school thanks to the bursaries provided by our Members of Parliament in our counties and constituencies. Currently, Laikipia County has achieved 70 per cent completion with semi- permanent structures in our schools. By seeking more funding for NG-CDF, I believe we can eliminate these semi-permanent structures and provide equal opportunities for students in Laikipia County, enabling them to receive an education just like their peers in other counties. As I support these amendments, I would like to discuss the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). I am the chairperson of the 47 county Members of Parliament. Allow me to share some statistics from last year. the National Government Affirmative Action Fund supported 50,000 students across the country with bursaries. Although 50,000 may seem like a small figure, I urge us to envision 50,000 children being granted an opportunity in this country. That is nearly the size of an entire constituency. My question is: what if we had more funding for NGAAF? We could potentially be speaking of hundreds of thousands of students receiving opportunities. In my own county of Laikipia, last year, I was able to send 430 students for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and another 362 for catering classes. I reflect on this and consider that these opportunities have provided students with a means to secure their futures - offering them a fishing line rather than simply giving them a fish. Such opportunities create employment and empower our young people. Hon. Temporary Speaker, last year we supported around 3,000 groups through NGAAF. While this number may seem small, envision the women, youth, and persons with disabilities who now have a daily source of income thanks to this funding. We have been able to empower individuals with trolleys, shaving kits, and tools of trade that enable success in their businesses. For instance, during a recent visit to Nanyuki, I provided my labour group in Nanyuki town with a concrete mixer. I believe this will enable them to empower themselves and, in the future, become property owners in that town. As women representatives, we also seek to ensure access to clean drinking water for our people. Unfortunately, our funding remains inadequate to guarantee that every school and administration institution has water tanks, ensuring our people are served with clean water and resources for better living conditions. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1571984,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571984/?format=api",
"text_counter": 205,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Laikipia County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jane Kagiri",
"speaker": null,
"content": "According to the Education Act, we are only allowed to provide sanitary towels to students in basic education. However, secondary students are often in even greater need of sanitary towels. Our resources currently do not cover all students, both in basic and secondary education. With increased funding for NGAAF, we will provide more children with sanitary towels, ensuring that our girls remain in school as they should. Finally, we are not merely seeking an increase; we are advocating for the consideration of a percentage of the national revenue. As we move forward with this amendment, we, as women representatives, are requesting a 2.5 per cent allocation of the national revenue to NGAAF to support our women, youth, and persons with disabilities. I support and I submit. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1571985,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571985/?format=api",
"text_counter": 206,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Martha Wangari",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Member for Kitui Central, Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu."
},
{
"id": 1571986,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571986/?format=api",
"text_counter": 207,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I join my colleagues in supporting this Constitution (Amendment) Bill, and before I delve into the details of the Bill, I wish to thank the movers, Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo and Hon. Chepkonga. I would like to provide some facts so that those following this debate understand what we are discussing. This Bill proposes the introduction of three funds: the National Government Constituency Fund (NGCF), the Senate Oversight Fund, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). When it comes to sharing resources in this country, we have two levels of government: the national government and the county governments. The Division of Revenue Bill determines how much funding goes to each level. After establishing the allocation for both the national government and the county governments, we will introduce these funds. Therefore, those who suggest that if this money is not allocated to the NGCF, the Senate Oversight Fund, and NGAAF it will go to the county governments are mistaken. The reality is that even if this money is not allocated to these three funds, it will not go to the county governments. The only way it could flow to the county governments is through conditional grants, meaning that the national Government would have to withdraw part of its share and distribute it to the counties in the form of conditional grants otherwise, there will be no additional resources for the counties if these funds are not established. Furthermore, these funds ensure equity in the distribution of resources. By equity, I mean that these are the only funds that guarantee that, at the end of the day, every constituency and every county receive funding from national resources, regardless of who they voted for. It therefore addresses the equity issue that we have consistently advocated for in resource sharing across the country. Through these funds, we can ensure that every part of this country has access to public resources. Another critical aspect is that the NG-CDF serves as a successful development model. If we were to assess the models we utilise to deliver development across this country, the NG-CDF stands out as the best which has been proven beyond reasonable doubt. I ask myself, if one is genuinely Kenyan, why would they not want their fellow Kenyans to benefit from this effective development model? It has minimal recurrent expenditure and the highest development expenditure, indicating growth in our economy. Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me highlight the impact of the NG-CDF on the Kenyan people. In my constituency, I did not mobilise anybody to advocate for or against it; the response was overwhelmingly positive. The people, on their own accord, chose to advocate for the continuation of the NG-CDF because it has made a significant impact on educational and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1571987,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571987/?format=api",
"text_counter": 208,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": "infrastructural development, particularly in providing bursaries for our students, especially those in need, including orphans in this country. The NG-CDF has also assisted our security sector in providing infrastructure for our security officers. This Fund emerges top in terms of the positive impact it has had on Kenyans. Any right-thinking Kenyan should support the entrenchment of this Fund in the Constitution. It will help improve the lives of our people."
},
{
"id": 1571988,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571988/?format=api",
"text_counter": 209,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The other issue is public participation. The current NG-CDF Act says that every two years, public participation is conducted to identify programmes and projects that should be funded to benefit our people. Public participation has also been adequately catered for in this Fund as required by the Constitution. Our people can give their views on what they want done. This way, we will have targeted developments by funding what the people proposed. That is why I support these three Funds."
},
{
"id": 1571989,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571989/?format=api",
"text_counter": 210,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Without belabouring, I urge my colleagues to support this Constitutional Amendment. Let us prove that we are in support of this by availing ourselves for the afternoon Sitting; we do not even achieve the two-thirds, but 100 per cent attendance in support of the three Funds. That way, we will help this country move in the right direction. Colleagues who are out there or watching the proceedings, make sure by 2.30 p.m. we are a full House so that we support these important Funds. We will be helping this country. With those many remarks, I support."
},
{
"id": 1571990,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571990/?format=api",
"text_counter": 211,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Martha Wangari",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Very well. I see there is a lot of interest. Though we have 10 minutes per Member, if we can try and shorten it, more people will speak. The Standing Orders do not provide for that; it has to be a personal conviction to take a shorter time. Member for Kitutu Masaba, Hon. Gisairo."
},
{
"id": 1571991,
"url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571991/?format=api",
"text_counter": 212,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kitutu Masaba, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Clive Gisairo",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Firstly, let me start by congratulating and thanking Hon. Otiende Amollo and Hon. Samwel Chepkonga for bringing this Bill to this House. The 2010 Constitution had very good intentions on devolution. However, it did not foresee a point where we are going to create 47 demigods. People who control funds, but the funds do not reflect in the lives of the people. The 47 demigods know that they cannot be summoned by this House; they can only be summoned by the Senate, which has little or no say on the direction of whatever they do. The Senators are not even able to know what actual projects are taking place in their counties. Members of Parliament are called by constituents to complain about dysfunctional services in the counties, matters that should be handled by the Senators. It is in that spirit that we feel that the Senators should get the Senate Oversight Fund. This will allow them to walk the streets of their counties, visit dispensaries, hospitals, and primary schools with Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) classes to confirm whether those infrastructures are being done and done in the right way. As a House, we therefore have to support this provision to ensure that Senators are well and properly resourced to oversee our 47 demigods. Resources will never be enough. We cannot reach everyone individually. And that is the spirit of having the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), to allow the women representatives to identify and support vulnerable cases within our communities. The NGAAF has done a commendable job. In my county, I have seen women and young people's groups being empowered to get their lives together. We have seen girls getting sanitary towels, things that we see as basics, but millions of our Kenyan youth cannot afford. Their parents are not able. NGAAF should not only be entrenched here, but the amount should at least be doubled to enable the vulnerable in the community to be taken care of in the right manner. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}
]
}