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{
    "id": 1269964,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1269964/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 52,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 170,
        "legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
        "slug": "bonny-khalwale"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As a public servant who has worked in Kilifi as a doctor for many years, I would be failing if I did not stand in this House strongly and supported those teachers in that request. I know that the Committee is going to be up to the task and will quickly bring the report. However, we need to be careful, colleagues. This thing is bigger. You have heard the thoughts of the Senate Majority Leader. It is not an area where we can have uniformity and, therefore, concurrence across the Floor. We need to call the Council of Governors (CoGs). We need to have a conversation with governors who are starting abstract projects and not committing the devolved funds for the provision of water, fixing of roads, and with the support of the national Government, electricity. The so-called hardship areas are in hardship because workers and the inhabitants have no access to water and they find it difficult to travel, which are things that can be fixed by governors. So, we need to put a high standard that in the so-called marginalized areas, governors must be persuaded not to pursue abstract projects, but instead, invest in these basic services. It is 60 years in Independence. Will we continue to separate civil servants so that one gets more and the other one less because of where they are working? Senate Majority Leader, this is debate. I hope you will not feel that we are challenging you. I want us to think collectively. What was the spirit of the Equalization Fund? Once upon a time, in this House, the Equalization Fund meant what the Constitution wanted it to be; to quickly bring up the known marginalized areas up to speed to be as close as possible to the rest of the country. What happened later on? The definition of marginalized areas has been changed. They have been equated to areas with high levels of poverty. If you make that mistake, it means the same way a marginalized area in a far-end area in Kilifi County or North Horr deserves to draw funds from this Fund, then even Kibera and Mukuru kwa Njenga in Nairobi County, Malaba slums in Kakamega County and other slums in urban centers will be entitled to this money."
}