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{
    "id": 1521329,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521329/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Chepalungu, CCM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Victor Koech",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak about this Bill. At the outset, I support the Bill because it seeks to provide services such as water, roads, electricity, and health facilities to marginalised constituencies to appear equal to other, more developed constituencies. The Bill has delayed because projects were identified a long time ago, and people have asked us, as Members of Parliament, where the Fund went. I had a situation in Cheptagum and Nogirwet villages in my constituency where members were called for public participation, and they came up with reports. It has now been several months, almost close to a year, and the people are still waiting for those funds to reflect in the various accounts so that the projects they identified can be implemented. We speak about marginalisation, and we applaud the drafters of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, for endeavouring to bring parity to different counties and sub-counties. As we seek to do the same, we ask ourselves as Members if this is what we are waiting for so that marginalised constituencies can now compete with immensely developed constituencies. I am bitter because we cannot compare rural constituencies to the town ones. Their electricity connectivity is almost at 99 per cent. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I was with you at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) offices, seeking a few transformers. As some of us were requesting for transformers, some constituencies were asking for streetlights simply because of the disparities in the budget-making process in this House. It is time we spoke and agreed that the Equalisation Fund is good and will at least bring some development. However, will the Equalisation Fund tip the inequalities that have been meted upon our constituencies for a very long time? For example, in my constituency, there is a road that has stalled for many years now. It has a lower allocation in the budget than roads in other constituencies that have developed over the years. We would like to categorically state that we support this Bill. It is timely and urgent. Therefore, it is time we pass it so that the constituencies that are suffering can benefit from it. However, my sentiments on the issues that touch on our constituencies will always be the same. I wish that the drafters of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, went ahead and highlighted the budget-making process in this House. This is because if we continue treating things normally, this world will not treat us in a normal way. I will continue speaking about the issues 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."
}