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{
    "id": 1475425,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1475425/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 206,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugenya, MDG",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2955,
        "legal_name": "David Ouma Ochieng'",
        "slug": "david-ouma-ochieng"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I have a different view from that of the membership. It cannot be gainsaid that the NG-CDF is extremely important for the growth of this country. However, we have fallen short as Parliament. Every time we have had a chance to deal with this matter with finality, we move in a hurry with emotions, and we do not do what is supposed to be done. We have amended the ND-CDF Act so many times without getting it right. We can do it this time round with a level and cool head, and get it right. Let us entrench the constituency in the Constitution as a level of devolution. That is what the court is telling us to do. If a ward is a level of devolution, can we entrench the constituency as a level of devolution so that it works out? Secondly, Members of Parliament represent constituencies. Stop going out there and saying that the NG-CDF is your fund. It is not your fund. Members of Parliament say: “My NG-CDF cannot be touched.” It is not yours! But you talk about it as if it is your fund. That is what the courts are saying. They do not want Members of Parliament to be putting their hands into the NG-CDF. They are right. Let us change the law to ensure that what the courts are saying is not right is made right. We cannot come here and start saying that the judges did this or that. They have played their role. Our role is to make laws. The role of judges is to interpret the law. We cannot keep on abusing judges every time they rule against us. That is not the way you run a country. Let us move with speed and ensure that the amendments that we propose clinically deal with the NG-CDF, as Hon. Otiende has said. We should not include things like the senate oversight fund. Let me give you an example. There is a Bill that I brought to this House in the 11th Parliament. Almost every Member liked it. It was about moving the election date from August to December. However, on the voting day, we could not raise 233 Members. We only had 227 Members on the two occasions that we voted. If Members believe in the NG-CDF, let us put our heads together and get a good law. Let us not blame everyone else apart from ourselves. We are to blame as the lawmakers. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I support the ruling. I hope we can soon do this to ensure that the NG-CDF is entrenched in the Constitution."
}