Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 1144281,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1144281/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 239,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Anthony Oluoch (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mathare, ODM): Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion on the ground that the idea of collapsing the Uwezo Fund, the Women Enterprise Fund and the Youth Fund is a welcome idea, taking into account the Wage Bill, various bloated boards and secretariats that have to run these three funds at a time when the country is facing a serious economic crunch. To this extent, the Committee was spot on, and this requires to be supported. I also look at it from the perspective of Articles 43 and 55 of the Constitution. I reiterate what my colleague, Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal said, and which I think the Committee ought to have looked at. What was the philosophical justification and anchoring of a fund such as this? It is affirmative in nature. Article 43 says that the State shall take all steps, including affirmative action, to ensure that young people have access to economic and social opportunities to training and other facilities. So, to merge them again and take it to a commercial entity as a bank, where they have to take the money as a loan, then defeats the whole purpose for which this was required to be, which is affirmative in nature, and which must be compared to other affirmative actions that have been taken for disabilities, women and other things. Imagine if there was a requirement for women to have seats where they run on their own, but have to go the extra mile again to face hurdles which, in the first place, you were trying to remove. The same applies to the persons living with disabilities. Secondly, whereas, I support in principle the merger of this, I have a concern about the anchorage. Where should we anchor this Fund? Being anchored in a piece of delegated legislation, which can be de-gazetted or annulled by the cabinet secretary or an amendment, put into serious question the commitment of this House and the country on our economic, social and cultural rights. We take into account that more prominence has traditionally been given to civil and political rights. Under Article 43 of the Constitution, we have the right to water, health and education. We have affirmative actions which revolve around Article 43 of the Constitution. I suggest that we seriously re-look at where to anchor it. This calls for a radical re-look and possibly consider anchoring this Fund either in a statute or the Constitution."
}