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{
    "id": 1336738,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1336738/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 202,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Dorothy Muthoni",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Committee deliberated on audited financial statements for the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) for 12 constituencies in Kakamega County. It is important to note that the Chair has given a majority of the observations we made. However, it is important to note that the Committee observed some very crucial issues cutting across all constituencies. One among them is the reallocation and use of emergency funds. The Committee observed that some of the projects funded using emergency funds did not meet the threshold set out in Section 6(2) and Section 8 of the NG-CDF Act of 2015. We went further and recommended that the NG-CDF board should ensure Fund Account Managers comply with the provisions of Section 6(2) of the Act. The other very emotive issue we observed that is still cutting across in a majority of constituencies is that most of the land that was bought in these constituencies, and properties and motor vehicles purchased by the board or the fund managers did not have ownership documents. It is important to note that land is very emotive. The Report we are presenting today draws back through 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Because we are auditing this Report at this time in 2023, we have observed that the land bought then still does not have the requisite papers to prove it belongs to the institutions the fund managers claim. It is also important to note that some of the vehicles procured then are not operational to date. They still could not provide the documents to prove ownership. Therefore, our view is that these documents should be provided to prove that this money, which is public money, was properly utilised. We were able to visit some of these constituencies physically. It is also important to note that the Committee observed a majority of pending and ongoing projects remain incomplete. We saw that some projects drawing back to the years we are mentioning are still incomplete. Particularly, I want to mention the constituency of Hon. Malulu who is seated next to me. We went to his constituency. He has completed incomplete projects. It is for this reason the Committee recommended that these projects should be funded and completed so that we can have proper utilisation of public funds. On top of that, some of the projects completed in those years remain unoccupied. That means these projects are going to waste because the priorities of projects done at that time have now shifted. For this reason, the Committee has recommended that the NG-CDF board should, with immediate effect, discourage partial allocation of funds to projects and ensure that projects are completed within two financial years. Further, NG-CDF committees should ensure proper costing of projects, especially at a time like now when the prices of materials have gone up. There should be proper consultation with relevant government departments to ensure realistic cost estimates are done to avoid pending projects that are partially done and not completed. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the NG-CDF has made significant impact with various constituency development projects being implemented throughout the country. The success and model of the NG-CDF have been linked to the bottom-up approach because NG-CDF projects touch communities. Therefore, this is a very good initiative. I urge and laud Members of Parliament because a majority of these projects go directly to the local level and have helped local communities. If you go across our constituencies, you can account for what the NG-CDF has done in this country as opposed to other Funds that go to constituencies. I thank the Committee and urge honourable Members to support this Committee so that, at the end of the day, public resources given using this avenue can be properly utilised. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I second."
}