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{
    "id": 1234626,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1234626/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 396,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Crystal Asige",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Equalisation Fund that is being discussed this afternoon. I rise to support the Bill. I wish to also thank the Committee on the work done so far on the Bill, appreciating its time sensitivity, being that the end of the financial year is fast approaching. What we know so far is that the Bill comes at a time when several counties are still in desperate need of basic services. Article 204 (2) of the Constitution states– “The national government shall use the Equalisation Fund only to provide basic services including water, roads, health facilities and electricity to marginalised areas to the extent necessary to bring the quality of those services in those areas to the level generally enjoyed by the rest of the nation, so far as possible.” Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my view is that it is essential to have an explicit formula or provide an exact portions allocated to benefit Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), children, elderly, youth and women who make up special interest groups in these marginalized areas. The Equalisation Fund should ensure that the funds allocation, allocated to each ward, has a specific cap for special interest groups in line with the objectives in our Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as you know, you will mostly find in our urban areas, Kenyans of working age leaving their home counties in search of opportunities to better their lives. For example, a young man from Marsabit will move to Nakuru, another one from Lamu may move to Mombasa or one from Nyamira might move to Kisumu and thousands will move to Nairobi. This means that our villages and rural areas comprise heavily of women, the elderly, PWDs as well as other marginalized groups. A clear allocation structure is vital to ensure that this segment of the society is not left behind. The funds should be utilized effectively to address the needs of our marginalized communities within these marginalized areas. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, tied to this is the urgency to implement any programmes covered by this Fund because of its sunset clause, designed to elapse 20 years after its commencement. This put it at only a handful years left unless we, as Parliament, intervene. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the 2011/2012 Financial Year, the approximated constitutional entitlement was the sum of Kshs2.3 billion. However, nothing was"
}