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{
    "id": 1211271,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1211271/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 268,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Chesumei, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Paul Biego",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "To me, NG-CDF is something that should not be discussed. It should already have been entrenched in the Constitution. Now that it has not been entrenched, I call upon all Members to fast-track the process. Hon. Gichimu and Hon. Mule had given us a blueprint and discussions had been done on the same. This Fund is aimed at achieving equitable distribution of resources across regions and to control imbalances in regional development brought about by partisan politics. NG- CDF structures are well stipulated that even to manipulate them is not easy. There are committees and we conduct public participation before they award development projects to respective areas. Hon. Temporary Speaker, why would somebody think or say that it is unconstitutional? If this is the case then what we need to do as legislators is to have it amended as it was in 2015. If there is another issue, everything can be discussed and amended. What I strongly believe and would not accept is for this Fund to be scrapped. There are billions of shillings that go to the counties, Ministries, and many State departments including grants and the impact is not visible in our communities. With NG-CDF structures and fund managers in place, I believe that NG-CDF is a fund that requires seriousness. If it is scrapped then I believe that the people who voted us in will not have got justice. On the matter of the Senate wanting an oversight fund, I totally support that but since we are all legislators and we are alive to the fact that we, as Members of Parliament, do not control that Fund, then we also need a similar fund in the National Assembly. This will enable us to oversee the jobs being done by the committees and by the people who we have given those jobs on the ground. I think I would support the allocation of money to the Senate so that they play their oversight role. As for the issue of the Leader of Opposition having their kitty, I support in totality and if the position is created then we will not have to witness ugly situations and scenarios that we are currently seeing in this country. Now that many of us are aspiring to be future Presidents, if we fall short of being President and we land to Opposition, then it would mean something for us - we will not have to go to the streets. What is happening in Kenya currently is the call for street protests and for all other manner of initiatives to show power. This would be a thing of the past if the Leader of Opposition had a lucrative fund. I support it. Hon. Temporary Speaker, when it comes to the issue of Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers coming to the House, as I earlier said, I am aware that it has been well designed. However, being a Member of Parliament, my other role is to oversee the Executive. Now that I am also a member of a committee, we have to be cognizant of the fact that once the Members or Cabinet Secretaries come to the Floor of the House then it will definitely weaken the committees and for sure the people who formed committees had a reason because you cannot have serious business going on the Floor of the House where there are many Members. This is why the committees were formed. Therefore, I feel strongly that even if Ministers were to come to the Floor of the House, we need to design a way that does not weaken committees."
}