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{
    "id": 1440078,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1440078/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 294,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marsabit County, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Naomi Waqo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you for allowing me to contribute to this Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill No.2. From the onset, I confirm that I fully support this. It is unfortunate that many years down the line, we are still debating, and not much progress has been recorded as a result of this. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we should be guided by the purpose of the Equalization Fund. Many Hon. Members have already said that this was meant to address the marginalised areas. When we talk of marginalised areas, many people do not understand the situation in those areas. This Fund was initially meant to bring to par the 14 counties, namely, Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Samburu, West Pokot, Tana River, Narok, Kwale, Garissa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Lamu. Unfortunately, the number of counties that need to come to par with others have grown because others want to compete with areas that have been marginalised since Independence. The Equalization Fund is meant to improve the road networks, water, electricity, and hospitals. I come from Marsabit County which is part of the initial 14 marginalised areas. Seven years ago is when we saw tarmac passing through our county. To date, we do not even have connecting roads to our villages. We are still struggling. Water is a real problem even where I come from yet I live in town. Many people are still experiencing the same problem as we did because they do not have electricity connectivity to the villages which is considered a necessity. Any responsible Government has to work hard to ensure that every part of the country is at the same level, progressing and developing at the same rate. Unfortunately, for over 50 years, most of these counties have been marginalised. These funds have been sitting somewhere without supporting any county nor individual. That is why today, we are debating the same. The unfortunate bit is that the counties that needed to benefit from this have grown from 14 to 34 in number. This means that the funds that were meant to support and help the real marginalised areas are now scattered and distributed among the many counties, and therefore, would not make any positive impact on the counties that have suffered since Independence. We need our services to be improved. These include the education system, infrastructure, water, roads and hospitals. Up to today, many people in our counties travel for over 300 kilometres. Imagine an expectant mother who is in labour on a rough road travelling for 300 kilometres. Most of them have lost their lives as they struggle on the roads. Majority of them have also delivered on the roads. Is that what we want to hear in the 21st century? No. That is why many counties need 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."
}