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{
    "id": 1571695,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571695/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 201,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The NG-CDF has a constituency committee in whose structure we do not take part. Like anyone else, we may try to see who gets there but it is still in the hands of the Deputy County Commissioner. People apply to be members of that committee. The Deputy County Commissioner chairs the meeting and thereafter people are picked. The Member of Parliament has absolutely no role. The Project Management Committee (PMC) may be the reason the NG-CDF is particularly popular. This is because funds allocated to constituencies clearly indicate the use and Vote. Of course, public participation is conducted prior to that and people decide what they really want done in their areas. Money from the board is allocated directly once that decision is made. The PMC purely comprises constituents who manage it and this is one of the strengths of the Fund. The truth is that a Member of Parliament has no role. What role would you have as a Member of Parliament if the Deputy County Commissioner who is the chairperson of the NG- CDF committee in the constituency and the Fund Account Manager decide to exclude you from what they are doing? You would have none at all. The truth is that the Fund can run without a Member of Parliament present. In that context, I do not see the issue that people have with it. Some people claimed this is just pocket money for Members of Parliament. How does this money even get into our hands? The head of the school who is either a secretary or chairperson of PMC is a signatory before payment is made for instance to a school. That is once money has gone to the Project Management Committee. The Member of Parliament is not a signatory anywhere. Therefore, I do not see why it is claimed that this money is for Members of Parliament. Why is this Fund popular? One is access. I have not seen a single Fund to which people have access like the NG-CDF. The chairperson and members of the community will sit once there is a problem. For instance, a school's dormitory has burnt down. They will decide whether to use the emergency component of the Fund and the work will be done immediately. The Member of Parliament does not play any role in it. Which other Fund gives people such direct access? During the project, the people oversee the job. Although many people come to us to complain about progress of projects, we just have to oversee what is happening. That is one of our oversight roles. A Member of Parliament may meet with the Sub-County Security Committee in need to know what is happening to security. That is oversight. That is exactly how we relate with the NG- CDF. There may be an ongoing education programme. For instance, Members of Parliament get involved during examinations. I do not see how Members of Parliament can be accused of owning or misusing the NG-CDF. Regarding the Senate Oversight Fund, I actually sympathise with Senators and Women Representatives. They have a huge area to oversee. Now, a Women Representative or a Senator in Parliament cannot start legislating without opportunity or ability to go to the constituency level to find out what exactly is happening. How will they work? The Senator and the Women Representatives need money. Otherwise, it will just be a talk show for them. They have to go and see what is happening. I think this Fund and the other decentralised Funds have been accused wrongly. Members of Parliament have also been wrongly accused of misusing these Funds. In my view, we should entrench these Funds if the people have found them useful. The only argument I have consistently heard is that it is unconstitutional. Why do we make constitutions? We create constitutions to guide our lives in a manner that we find most useful and productive. If we discover a structure that proves to be highly efficient, why should we not amend the Constitution to incorporate elements that work 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."
}