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{
    "id": 1270279,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1270279/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 367,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 170,
        "legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
        "slug": "bonny-khalwale"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, I stand guided. I would like to guide the young Senator although they somehow get irritated when you tell them that they are new. You could still do it during your debate and then counter me. You do not have to come up on a point of order. You just take notes and when it is your time to speak, you counter me and shoot my ideas down. However, as far as the guidance from the Chair is concerned, I agree and I find it very wrong for me to veer into the persona of another Senator. If the HANSARD is showing that, may I withdraw and apologise. Having said that, it leaves me with only two points. I am supporting this Bill because the Bill wants to ensure that the administration of that fund is not abused. It should be done within the framework of law. However, as I do so, I am worried because in the memorandum of objects and reasons, we are told that these are services to be rendered in marginalized areas. Under the Constitution of Kenya, marginalised are identified in this Constitution. In this Bill – and there is nothing the Chairman can do – the fund is being administered to areas with the perceived highest levels of poverty. The intention was for the marginalised areas. So, the criteria for which we cannot blame ourselves which was allowed by our predecessors, they veered from marginalised areas and admitted a criterion that expands the number of counties that are beneficiaries purely because pockets of poverty have been found in those areas. A hardworking Kenya who is a stickler to the law can go to court and actually find that this Bill is unconstitutional. This because it is attempting to administer money to areas of highest poverty instead of money going to marginalised areas. Nevertheless, that is debate for another day when the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) brings the formula that they are working on. I support it nevertheless but now I am on record. Secondly, we are extending the dependency of the period for affirmative action. This is because we have not used the money in the beginning. We must support this. I suspect that even after we have extended the period we have given, at the end of it there might still be need to extent it even more. Why? It is because I feel bitter that children in the former frontier districts drink dirty water. This is the same water where livestock such as camels and even wildlife pee. The children of Kenya, purely because of being in marginalised areas, are forced to use that kind of unhygienic water. I am against it. Therefore, my dream is that this House will one day humble itself and allow all Equalization Funds to concentrate only in those 14 counties that we had identified in 2013. Madam Temporary Speaker, I ask you and I am not challenging you; I am just provoking your mind as a good mother. Can you imagine Murang’a County – I know you know where it is – with its geographical and climatic advantage relative to Marsabit County? Now, Muranga is competing with Marsabit and Turkana counties in sharing this The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}