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{
    "id": 1128919,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1128919/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 314,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Jared Okelo (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Nyando, ODM): Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. In the same breath, I thank my brother, Hon. Wamunyinyi, the FORD-Kenya party leader, for this detailed Report on the status of the NG-CDF. When we were making the Budget, there was a universal agreement that NG-CDF monies would be released by December this year, so that we can concentrate on delivering on the mandate to our people. Now they have shifted goal-posts from December and are talking about February. There are accruing balances amounting to Kshs4.9 billion. Initially, my Nyando Constituency was not part of those accruing balances. However, in the last financial year, my constituency did not receive funds to the tune of Kshs12 million shillings, which has been fed to the current balances. Failure by the National Treasury to play ball and do as this House demands may result in even bigger balances accruing on our people at the end of this financial year. It is true that we have categories in terms of which funds are devolved to the grassroots. We have county monies upon which funds are devolved to the grassroots. We have county monies and there is the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) from the national kitty. The only effective Fund that impacts on the lives of our people is the NG-CDF. If you ask anybody, they will tell you that. Again, the way this was tailored, that monies are plugged onto projects, makes it very difficult for any pilferages to occur. Our people will tell you that if there are any monies that circulate, it is the NG-CDF. It is because we only deal with local contractors, unlike the national Government that engages the Chinese. This is the only money that percolates downwards to improve the lives of our people. Therefore, any delay means suffering out there. But I acknowledge that the Government tends to also look at the grandiose projects that are done by the Chinese, like this Express Way from the Airport. They religiously pay those contractors. Those are monies that get shipped abroad to China and other countries, instead of empowering our people through the NG-CDF. That is not a lot of money. It is only 2.5 per cent. The Government has 97.5 per cent at its disposal to play with as much as they want. This money, as small as it can be, impacts very positively on the lives of our people. For instance, when we talk about the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC), the Government talked about releasing Kshs10 billion towards the construction of new classrooms. I do not know whether any constituency has seen that money, and I do not know whether it will ever be released. This NG-CDF is what the Government needs to pay much attention to. I thank our Leader of the Majority Party who has pursued those monies together with my brother Hon. Wamunyinyi who is the Committee Chair. But they will need to do more so that, as we agreed, all the monies 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."
}