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{
    "id": 1300327,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1300327/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 425,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to say something on the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill. This particular Bill is supposed to appropriate money to go to these deprived areas. We are talking about 34 counties which are going to benefit from this fund. Looking through it, my county is not included among the 34. Madam Temporary Speaker, I am very concerned. When this Bill first came to this House, I engaged the CRA. They told me that they were going to consider areas in counties which are at least quantile one or two and some of my areas are in quantile two. However, when I look through the Bill, my county is not listed. I join my colleagues who have said, we need to relook at the policy that identifies the areas that needs to benefit from this Equalization Fund. Madam Temporary Speaker, even before we consider this Bill, it will be important that we consider the marginalization policy that this distribution is based on. It must be considered and approved by this House. We cannot just come in at the last moment where we are being told to appropriate money. We must also look at the policy itself. How are they identifying the so called the marginalized sub locations and how are they categorizing them into various quantiles from quantile one to quantile four. Madam Temporary Speaker, when I was given a list by the CRA, we had areas in my county, which ideally deserve to benefit from this Equalization Fund. There is a sub- location called Mwembe and Ivola which are in Tambua Ward. There are two sub- locations; Vigulu and Chagenda which are in Mungoma and South Maragoli and are not listed here. These are heavily marginalized areas. People in Chagenda stay in stones. They have no access to water, hospitals and roads yet they are categorized as sub-locations which are not going to benefit. That is why we must question the process of determining marginalized sub locations instead of waiting to approve money to go into these areas. There is an area in Emabungo Ward which is on a hill. Getting there is a problem and children struggle to access their schools. This area is not listed among those that are to benefit. Vigulu and Chagenda have always experienced hailstorms. About two weeks ago, the houses in these areas were destroyed by heavy hailstorms. These people have not benefited from any emergency support from the Government. They are experiencing climate change challenges because of the destruction of Maragoli Forest. The Government is doing nothing. When this opportunity arises, I expect such areas to benefit. However, they are not because of the policy that we have not looked at or done in a skewed manner."
}