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{
"id": 1582526,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1582526/?format=api",
"text_counter": 512,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Molo, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kuria Kimani",
"speaker": null,
"content": "now led by Hon. Gachobe. School fees was Ksh3,000 for first term, Ksh2,000 for second term, and Ksh1,000 for third term. Hon. Temporary Speaker, that money was too much for my late grandfather and my late grandmother. It took the intervention of the then Member of Parliament for Molo Constituency, Hon. Wakili Mukiri, whom I still hold in very high esteem. Through one of his members of staff called Karanja Wageshi, my neighbour from Mwitima in Mukinyai, my name was brought to the NG-CDF. For the four years of my high school, I was educated through NG-CDF, led by the patron then, Hon. Wakili Mukiri. I completed my Form IV in 2005, scored an A in my KCSE, and was admitted to Kenyatta University. Still, that was a mirage in the dream of my community because school fees per year then, from 2007, was Ksh2,000 per year, excluding accommodation or upkeep. It was still a very long dream for my grandparents. Again, it took the intervention of the Member of Parliament then for me to apply for bursaries. I must also explain to this House. I also cheated in my bursary applications. As a student leader at the university, I used to apply for NG-CDF bursaries from all the constituencies I was affiliated with. Being a member of Molo, I applied there. Having attended high school in Subukia, I also applied for bursary in Subukia. Having a girlfriend from Gatundu South, I applied from her constituency too. That is how I survived through my four years. I speak before this House as a beneficiary of NG-CDF. Were it not for NG-CDF, I do not know where I would be. I would have been a wasted talent in the village. I would never have stepped into a high school classroom or university lecture hall. I speak from experience as someone who almost despaired. I remember when my admission letter for high school came, I had a discussion with my late grandfather. I showed him the proposed school fees, and he told me that he could not afford it. Even if they sold all the maize that was harvested that financial year, they still could not educate me. After that, I went to bed crying, knowing that my dream of becoming someone in the Republic of Kenya had been shattered. Enshrining NG-CDF in our Constitution means we are going to support dreams, support talents, and ensure that people who never had a vision of ever going to school, university, or earning a decent household income can now achieve it. I have listened to Members contribute to this discussion. If you go around our counties, the truth is, the most reasonably priced projects you will find are those that are funded by NG-CDF. Although NG-CDF is not directly supervised by Members of Parliament, there seems to be a close relationship between how the funds are spent and our roles. Before we even oversee national public funds, for example, allocated to the Ministry of Water, Energy, or Transport, our first instinct is to start with the funds allocated to NG-CDF. As a result, NG-CDF remains the most overseen fund by both Houses of Parliament. As a result, you will find substantial projects delivered through this Fund. It is a no-brainer. You go to a constituency, and there is a school starting from PP1, PP2, through primary and high school. You will find that a classroom constructed by a county government might cost Ksh1.6 million, while a similar classroom next to it funded by NG- CDF would cost between Ksh800,000 and Ksh1 million. You then wonder where the extra half a million shillings went to. If there is one thing I must support and encourage this House to do, and I echo the voice of Hon. Makilap; is that next Tuesday, we must all turn up in numbers to ensure that NG-CDF is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya. This will safeguard against the risks we have faced. One day, a judge wakes up and declares it unconstitutional, citing one reason or the other. The following day, they give yet another reason. We must ensure that this Fund is constitutionally protected. This matter has been brought forward because of fundamental concerns that have been raised adequately, honestly and accurately by litigators in our courts of law. They have questioned Article 1 of the Constitution on the sovereignty of the Republic of Kenya. They 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."
}