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{
    "id": 1572006,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572006/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 227,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kanduyi, FORD-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Makali",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "In pushing this Bill, we formed NADCO, which sat and took views from Kenyans. Kenyans were very clear that we needed to entrench these funds in the Constitution. Therefore, in passing this Bill, we are doing nothing outside the law. We are simply fulfilling the wishes of Kenyans whom we represent here. As it is emblazoned in the House, we are here ‘for the welfare of society and the just government of the people’. Article 10 of the Constitution provides national values. Some of the national values are inclusion, equity and public participation. We took this Bill to all the 290 constituencies and 98 per cent of Kenyans said we needed to entrench this Fund in the Constitution to give naysayers a break from taking this Assembly and the Board to court every time. There is no part of Kenya which is excluded from this Fund. We are giving effect to inclusivity and ensuring accountability. One of the critical things in this Fund is public participation at the grassroots. We used to have Focus on Rural Development during the Moi era, which failed. This is the only Fund on which public participation is conducted at the grassroots level and people give their views on the development they want. Two agencies have been fighting this Fund; the Council of Governors and the civil society. They have taken many matters to court, which we have been able to participate in. Their argument has been that we want to create a third level of funds. They say that there are only two levels of disbursement of government funds, that is, the national government and the county governments. We need to disabuse the notion that funds allocated to NG-CDF are funds meant for county governments. These are funds allocated for national functions. NG-CDF funds finance national government functions. Therefore, there is no overlap at all. There has also been a misnomer that these funds are like loose change and pocket money for Members of Parliament. That is not true. Members of Parliament are far removed from the Fund. This Fund is domiciled in the National Treasury and there is a board that manages it. There are NG-CDF committees at the constituency level and Project Management Committees (PMCs) at the community level. This Fund is not loose change for Members of Parliament as it has been indicated. Members only conduct oversight to ensure these Funds are spent in a better manner so that they are not misused. They also oversee how the projects are being done. Therefore, the only contact with this particular Fund by the Members of Parliament is for purposes of oversight. Finally, Hon. Temporary Speaker, in amending the Constitution, we are simply giving effect to the wishes of the Kenyan people who sent us here. The public participation process clearly indicates that 98 per cent of Kenyans wanted entrenchment of these Funds in the Constitution. With those few remarks, I beg to support this constitutional amendment. I urge my colleagues to stand up to be counted, and vote for this constitutional amendment that assists not only the poor people, but it cuts across the entire Kenya and assists both the underdeveloped and developed areas so that we can have equity in our national development ethos as we move on as a country. I support this constitutional amendment. Thank you."
}