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{
    "id": 1224600,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1224600/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 396,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "time and having worked across the breadth and length of our nation, we know that there are some areas where there is always rain. We know some counties where there is always food and those which have shortfall of rainfall. We know that there are counties that will not also have rain and they suffer from drought for a long time. The marginalised areas are supposed to be the beneficiaries of this Equalization Fund that was set up under the Constitution. The reason being that the Equalization Fund was supposed to help counties such as Tana River County. They have been left behind because of poor Government policies of successive governments. In fact, there was formalization through some white papers that some areas would be developed and others would be left behind. Apparently, those areas that are supposed to be developed are supposed to be of high potential. This Equalization Fund is supposed to benefit counties such as ourselves. You will find there is very little road network in terms of tarmacked roads in a place like Tana River County. You will find very little in terms of real infrastructural developments such as electricity. It is just in a few towns and that is it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill wants to make this fund operational. This fund was supposed to work for only 20 years, but leaders have not been able to agree. Rich counties that have good soils, receive rains and have agricultural surpluses, have also come back to say that they are also marginalised in some parts. So, it has been difficult to agree on what is a marginalised area. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill attempts to resolve that impasse. That impasse has made the National Treasury to have this money stay in Treasury. A justification that has continued to deny the people who deserve to have this money come to their counties. This is a very good Bill because if it is passed today, there is an attempt to start operationalisation of this Equalization Fund. Now I am aware that the 20-year period that was allocated to it is almost coming to an end without it being operationalised because of squabbles. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill attempts to sort out that problem and brings a mechanism in which we know which are the marginalised areas by law and so, who are supposed to receive it. This Bill creates a mechanism for the national and the county government to cooperate in dealing with the real issues affecting our people in this country. We know that some county governments have had their priorities in terms of budgeting up and down. We witness this in the Senate Public Accounts Committee, when they are being grilled. Many of these counties do not just prioritise the people's needs. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill attempts to force even the national Government to put the people in front. This President and all future Presidents will be forced to cooperate with county governments so that the needs of the people at the lower scale of the dichotomy of the economy benefit. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Bill goes on to promote sustainable development. I say sustainable because if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is measured in terms of the top people only who deal with industrialization when the people are hungry, that is not sustainable. As I have said before, this Bill is key in the promotion of good governance"
}