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{
    "id": 144078,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/144078/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 899,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Parliament never used to know when they would go for recess. This time round, we were given early notice and a programme. That is the way to go. Allow me to thank the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance for giving this country a very nice Budget and more so, because it was a devolved Budget. Giving out that money in a devolved system is one thing; implementing is another. Should this money be managed through the CDF or the line Ministries? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when I listened to the Minister for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, I think they are leaning towards the line Ministries. If they go that way, we will not go anywhere. The impact of that money will not be felt. The other day, the media decided to have a call out session to find out whether people wanted this money to be under the CDF where MPs are patrons or through the line Ministries.I was able pick five reasons by the members of the public. Ninety nine per cent were in agreement that this money should be channeled through the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). They were very clear. They had very good reasons too. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, one reason was that if this money is channeled through the CDF, there is somebody you can follow up; that is the Member of Parliament, and question him or her. The other reason was that if the Member of Parliament is not accountable and does not utilize those Funds in the proper way, they can actually sack him. The third reason was that if they are totally fed up with him and he has stolen their money, they can punish him. They can even burn his house. The fourth reason is that they fear the Government. In the rural areas, the Government is represented by the District Officers (DCs) and chiefs. They were saying that the DCs have people called Administration Police (APs). So if they go there to demand for money from the DC, they would be shot. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, they even went further and said after all, and of course, we do not encourage that, if the Member of Parliament misappropriates the money, he is still their son and they know how to deal with him. My appeal to the Ministry of Finance is to rethink and let this money come through the CDF. Let it come with guidelines and give the right personnel for support. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, today we have a problem. In the last Parliament, I was the one who was insisting that the District Development Officers (DDOs) and District Accountants (DAs) should be in charge of CDF at the district level. That time--- You know, mankind has evolved for many years. If my memory serves me right, the first man was called Astrophethicus ; he evolved to Z injanthropas; he moved on to Home Erectus who was the first man to walk; he then came to Homo Habilis, the first man to think and to the current man, Homo Sapiens ; the man who can read and write. It appears that the DDOs are evolving backwards to zinjanthropas and Homo erectus. I say so because to run the CDF today has become virtually impossible. In my constituency, the membership of the CDF Committee are people of respect. When an old man who is the chairman of the CDF or the secretary who is an elderly educated mother, goes to talk to the DDO who is a young man and the DDO lectures that old man who could even be his grandfather or father in a very un-courteous manner--- Time has come when we must remove civil servants from the CDF. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is very clear. If you look at local authorities, which have more money than the CDF; it has Kshs17 billion, they do not have DDOs and DAs."
}