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{
    "id": 1581903,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1581903/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 552,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wundanyi, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Danson Mwashako",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important Bill that seeks to entrench the NGCF, NGAAF and the Senate Oversight Fund into the Kenyan Constitution. The debate on this Bill is timely because there has been a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding around the decentralised funds in this country. First and foremost, I declare that I am speaking from a point of information because I have done research in this area. I did my Master's Degree in Public Policy and Management at Strathmore University. In my dissertation, I delved into critical appraisal of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Act (Cap. 414A). In that research, I looked at the emerging issues around implementation, policy options and best practices around the world on matters decentralised funds like NG-CDF. Therefore, I must declare that I am in support of this constitutional amendment that seeks to entrench the NGCF, NGAAF and Senate Oversight Fund into the Constitution. When I did that research, I wanted to understand the reasoning behind the many litigants who run to court every time to challenge the NG-CDF, including governors and senators, who support such kind of litigation. During the research process, I interviewed so many people, including the National Treasury mandarins who disburse that money to the constituencies. I also sat with the NG-CDF management and board officials in a bid to understand the thinking around our fund managers and the chairmen of the NG-CDF committees. I sometimes get confused about how judges and people who go to court reason. This is because - and the truth be told - when we got a new Constitution in 2010, Kenyans wanted devolution. However, it is also important to differentiate between devolved and decentralised Funds. Devolved Funds go to the county governments. The National Government has the power to decentralise Funds that are controlled by the Executive. That is why the NG-CDF and NGAAF are decentralised Funds and not devolved Funds. Every interviewee I spoke to during my research asked us to enshrine those Funds in the Constitution, so that we can assure Kenyans, who are the beneficiaries of those Funds, that they will remain sustainable. I will always speak for the beneficiaries of those Funds. It has been alleged that Members of Parliament play a big role in running that Fund. Truth be told, we only oversee it. That is why it is the NG-CDF. It is very difficult to disabuse people of the notion that their Member of Parliament is involved. It is not wrong for a Member of Parliament to know what is happening with the NG-CDF. Therefore, we must tell Kenyans the truth. Kenyans engaged in public participation and gave their views, which were overwhelmingly in support of the constitutional amendment. Around 99.9 per cent of the people who were interviewed in my constituency supported this amendment. Even as we enshrine the NG-CDF, NGAAF and Senate Oversight Fund into the Constitution, we need to put more emphasis on the principle of good governance. We must ensure that public participation is correctly done and accountability in the management of these Funds. We must also ensure total transparency in the administration of the NG-CDF, NGAAF 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."
}