Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1023016,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1023016/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 255,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kanduyi, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Wafula Wamunyinyi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 291,
        "legal_name": "Athanas Misiko Wafula Wamunyinyi",
        "slug": "athanas-wamunyinyi"
    },
    "content": "allocation of funds from the Education Bursary Scheme to other projects like expansion of additional school infrastructure, mostly construction of classrooms and purchase of desks in preparation for re-opening of schools. Members also sought to know the fate of the un-gazetted constituencies, the status of pending delayed release of funds and even additional funding to deal with the COVID-19 situation in our schools in order to comply with the protocols and guidelines from the Ministry of Health. I would like to inform the House that the NG-CDF Board has received enquiries from several constituencies on the possibility of re-allocating the funds set aside for Education Bursary in financial years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. These enquiries have been based on the realisation of the need for more space and facilities when schools re-open. The Board has deliberated on the request and in its meeting of 28th July 2020 resolved that constituencies may re-allocate funds from bursaries in the Financial Year 2019/2020 where bursaries have not been released, and in the Financial Year 2020/2021 on condition that the funds are channelled to construction of classrooms or purchase of desks. Further, in line with Section 6(2) of the Act, the Board has considered re- allocation of funds from sports and environment. In schools where there is a shortage of toilets, money for environment can go towards construction of toilets. The Emergency Reserve, in line with Section 8 of the Act, remains un-allocated and is available for emergencies that may occur within the constituencies. However, upon the lapse of financial years such as 2019/2020, if there is any money for emergency which has not been utilised, it can go to construction of classrooms. This will have to go through the normal procedure of notifying the Board and seeking concurrence. The Board is in the process of preparing communication to constituencies to give clarification on this position and provide the guidelines on how to do this. On Tuesday 11th August 2020, the NG-CDF Committee held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury with regard to the delayed disbursement, among other issues, including additional funding for schools. The Committee was informed by the Cabinet Secretary that in order to address the issue of additional funding, the National Assembly had approved Kshs2.1 billion under the State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education to cater for rehabilitation and construction of additional school infrastructure under the Economic Stimulus Program. This is domiciled in the Ministry of Education and we will need to engage with the Departmental Committee on Education and the Cabinet Secretary for Education to ensure that we harmonise the process of identification of projects and formula for sharing out this money amongst the schools. It is, therefore, proposed by my Committee that a joint meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education should be held to harmonise this matter. Regarding the arrears that have accrued over the years, the Cabinet Secretary informed the Committee that due to the low performance revenue for the Financial Year 2019/2020 resulting from the effects of COVID-19, the National Treasury found it difficult to release the Kshs13.7 billion in respect of the same financial year. This figure adds to the earlier figure of Kshs4.9 billion that had accumulated from previous years, totalling to Kshs18.691 billion. Hon. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that on Monday, 10th August 2020, the National Treasury, as promised earlier by the Cabinet Secretary, released Kshs4 billion. The funds have been received by the Board for disbursed to the constituencies. The CS also assured the Committee that there will be an additional release after one week on Monday 17th. Subsequently, they will release the remaining balances after salaries have been settled at the end of the month."
}