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{
    "id": 1067980,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1067980/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 147,
    "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": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to express myself on this important Bill before the House. I have sat here patiently from when the debate on this Bill started. I was interested to express myself because, in this House, I am the only leader of a party and a luminary who appended the signature at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC). I would like, at the outset, to restate that I support BBI. My position has not changed. I also want to state that the position of my party, FORD-K, has not changed. The right FORD-K I lead supports the BBI unreservedly and unwaveringly. We will continue to support BBI until we pass it. As my friend Hon. Ngunjiri said, we forget very fast. I would like us to remember where we were in March 2018 when His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga shook hands. This country was going down. We were having running battles. The economy was crumbling. We had reached a level where we could easily be declared a failed state. The handshake brought life back to our country. The obvious intention was to restore peace in our country, unite Kenyans and build a prosperous Kenya for the future. As a result of this, the BBI was set in motion and a task-force was established. It went round the country and sought views from Kenyans who made contributions and proposals which culminated in the current process. The people that were reached include Nekesa and Wanjiku. They made proposals which culminated in the current process. I would not like to repeat what other colleagues have said because I want to save time to allow others to speak. However, I want to stress a few points. One important point that is captured in this amendment Bill is to strengthen devolution in our country. We appreciate how much devolution has impacted on the development in our areas, from the counties, constituencies and wards. By increasing the amount of money allocated to the counties, you strengthen devolution and, therefore, enhance development in our areas. I have heard Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah talk about reducing the amount of the National Government – Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). It would be illegal to reduce the amount of the NG-CDF going to constituencies. In fact, we are entrenching the NG-CDF in the Constitution. We will then undertake the legislative bit to enable the performance of the NG-CDF. During that time, we will increase the percentage from the current 2.5 per cent to maybe 5, 7 or even 10 per cent, so that we have more money in the NG-CDF. I would like to appeal to colleagues not to peddle untruths. Let us speak the truth. This is a very important moment for our country. We should not allow colleagues to use deceitful language when in the House. Currently, some members of the so-called civil society have gone to court again. We have been served and I am sure papers are on your desk. They are trying to block the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for the National Treasury from releasing more money to the constituencies. We have sought legal support. The litigation team in Parliament is helping us to respond to what has been filed by some members of the civil society. For us to cure these problems and threats that we receive every now and then, let us pass the constitutional amendment Bill. For us to cure the challenges we are facing with regard to the NG-CDF, we must pass the constitutional amendment Bill. One other important thing I wanted to stress is the establishment of a ward fund entrenching the NG-CDF under Article 207(a) and also establishing a ward fund under Article 206(a). Having the ward fund working as the NG-CDF will ensure that money is spent on development and not on any other activities. This is very important. Finally, there is also the fact that we are creating new constituencies. I know that some areas would have wished to also get new constituencies, which they have not. It is important that we note that we can enhance equity and representation. That will be enhanced and each part of the 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."
}