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{
"id": 1571983,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1571983/?format=api",
"text_counter": 204,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Laikipia County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Jane Kagiri",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to support this Amendment Bill. As I stand in support of this amendment, I am reminded of my childhood when I was excited to attend a boarding secondary school. Unfortunately, during those years, Laikipia County did not have a boarding secondary school for girls, so my parents had to send me to another county for my secondary education. Over the years, I have often wondered what had caused the lack of schools in our area. Laikipia County has long been neglected, and we are one of the counties that seek equalisation due to historical injustices. Years later, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) was introduced. Today, I can proudly refer to NG-CDF as the equaliser in this country. Due to the efforts of the Members of Parliament elected in Laikipia, we can now take pride in having boarding schools for both boys and girls in our county. Furthermore, many needy students have gone through school thanks to the bursaries provided by our Members of Parliament in our counties and constituencies. Currently, Laikipia County has achieved 70 per cent completion with semi- permanent structures in our schools. By seeking more funding for NG-CDF, I believe we can eliminate these semi-permanent structures and provide equal opportunities for students in Laikipia County, enabling them to receive an education just like their peers in other counties. As I support these amendments, I would like to discuss the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). I am the chairperson of the 47 county Members of Parliament. Allow me to share some statistics from last year. the National Government Affirmative Action Fund supported 50,000 students across the country with bursaries. Although 50,000 may seem like a small figure, I urge us to envision 50,000 children being granted an opportunity in this country. That is nearly the size of an entire constituency. My question is: what if we had more funding for NGAAF? We could potentially be speaking of hundreds of thousands of students receiving opportunities. In my own county of Laikipia, last year, I was able to send 430 students for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and another 362 for catering classes. I reflect on this and consider that these opportunities have provided students with a means to secure their futures - offering them a fishing line rather than simply giving them a fish. Such opportunities create employment and empower our young people. Hon. Temporary Speaker, last year we supported around 3,000 groups through NGAAF. While this number may seem small, envision the women, youth, and persons with disabilities who now have a daily source of income thanks to this funding. We have been able to empower individuals with trolleys, shaving kits, and tools of trade that enable success in their businesses. For instance, during a recent visit to Nanyuki, I provided my labour group in Nanyuki town with a concrete mixer. I believe this will enable them to empower themselves and, in the future, become property owners in that town. As women representatives, we also seek to ensure access to clean drinking water for our people. Unfortunately, our funding remains inadequate to guarantee that every school and administration institution has water tanks, ensuring our people are served with clean water and resources for better living conditions. 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."
}