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{
    "id": 1066161,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066161/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 127,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "If you look at how we allocate money for roads under the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, the recruitment of the defence forces officers and the police, you will realize that it is based on the political units that are called constituencies and what we refer to administratively as sub counties. Therefore, it will be a novelty for our political system to allow us to share resources based on political representation. It is an easier way to resolve this problem. The BBI Bill has proposed to entrench the National Government -Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) into the Constitution. The current formula for sharing resources is equal amount of money to the 290 constituencies. It, therefore, follows that those who are highly underrepresented, in the current format of government, through the gerrymandering that has been done by the past administration, should get some reprieve. The historical injustices need to be corrected. The 70 proposed constituencies, if well distributed, will help cure the various challenges that I see on a daily basis, such as providing school fees and medical care. The second issue that I would want to address is the underrepresentation of PWDs in this country. For a long time, PWDs have been treated as people who do not deserve to be at the centre of decision making. In Parliament, the nomination slots are basically sinecure, where you create a position in Government to resolve a problem without resolving the same problem. I have tried to ensure that there is equity between those who represent special interest groups and those who are elected because these positions are created to cure the inequality and the unfairness. However, it has become traditional and we have actually entrenched discrimination in our systems and structure of representation, such that those who are nominated are actually a second tier of leaders in this country. The initial BBI draft Bill had actually removed all of the positions that would have guaranteed representation for PWDs. One would then ask: what would they serve if you are in a position where they are actually underrepresented and in a place where they are actually not seen as an equal to their colleagues in Parliament? That serves right because they are able to demonstrate that people like themselves can be leaders. I am proud of the fact that I have served both in the National Assembly and the Senate, where I have represented persons with disability and that has made a difference. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}