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{
    "id": 1247225,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1247225/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1640,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Timothy Kipchumba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very important Motion. It is not in doubt that the NG-CDF has been of great significance in this country. If you compare the monies sent to the constituencies through the NG-CDF and those sent to counties, you will note that there is a marginal difference on how their money is spent. The reason the NG-CDF has been successful is because of its lean management. That is why we insisted before this House the need to anchor it in the Constitution, so that no one can challenge it before our courts. The NG-CDF has assisted in terms of developing our infrastructure. I do not know what would have happened to our public primary schools and secondary institutions, if there was no NG-CDF, bearing in mind they are a function of the national Government. The NG-CDF has been of great importance in our constituencies. I am worried about the reports we are discussing of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee in respect to the Financial Years 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. It is unfortunate that a report which should have been discussed in 2018 is being discussed in 2023. I have read a very interesting recommendation in one of the reports that states at some point that a Member of Parliament registered an asset of the NG-CDF in particular, a motor vehicle in his name. I am pretty sure if this were to happen this year or in the last financial year, stern measures would have been taken against that individual. I have also read the report in detail and seen the need for continuous capacity building for NG-CDF staff. As you will realise most of them are newly employed and mostly Members of Parliament have a hand in their employment. These people need continuous and thorough training, so that they can be in line with the Public Service Code of Conduct. In terms of uniformity of projects, we need to standardise the kind of projects we have. Different constituencies have different ways of standardising projects. If we have uniformity of projects in the constituencies there will be value for money. The biggest and most critical issue affecting the NG-CDF is the late disbursement of funds. As we speak, in our constituencies some projects are still pending and others are incomplete. Our pupils need to use classrooms, laboratories and dormitories but they are not ready for occupation. This is because the Government has not remitted money and this is the biggest challenge the NG-CDF faces in this country. This House must take stern action against the National Treasury. There is no reason other Government departments are fully funded whereas NG-CDF funds have not been remitted to the constituencies. As we speak, funds for development have not been disbursed to the constituencies and this is an insult to this House and Members of Parliament. That is why we must stamp the authority of this House in terms of parliamentary sovereignty. This is because Parliament is not an arm of the Executive but an arm of Government. We have three arms of Government; the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. This Parliament is not an arm of the Executive and that is why we must stamp our authority as a House. The reason the funds have not been disbursed is because of the way we act as a House. We need to have a firm resolve so that we can gain the respect we deserve as the National Assembly. If we became an appendage of either arm of Government and ask for funds to be disbursed to our constituencies, we will have lost our independence and ‘sovereignty.’ 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."
}