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{
    "id": 1626530,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626530/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 206,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, Equalisation Fund was set up in 2004. The purpose was to bring at par in terms of development and achievements, 14 counties that had been neglected for many years, including my county. The funds were not released immediately. It stayed for a long time in the National Treasury before it was distributed. It accumulated a lot of money and to date, the money has been released in bits. My county is now receiving Kshs1.6 billion, but this is insignificant because it has been again split into small bits of money ranging from Kshs1 million to Kshs2 million. This money, if well utilized, could have made some significant improvement. When it went to the counties, the money was further split into small bits. The purpose of having one major project that will have a long-term benefit cannot be achieved because this money was split further. A committee was formed and now it is actually under the control of the Governor. The money is now being used to lure some supporters and all these things. Splitting the money into small bits misses the whole purpose. This money was initially meant for 14 counties. Probably many other counties had similar problems, but now there are 34 counties. The Kshs16 billion that has been released is actually insignificant for these counties to make a big stride on development. Madam Temporary Speaker, the only way we can achieve something in these counties, especially in Northern Kenya such as Turkana and Wajir to come at the par with other parts of Kenya in terms of development is to have a major investment in development such as mega dams. When you give a small area or a certain centre, Kshs1 million or Kshs2 million for electricity, I think it does not meet the purpose. When you give that same money to build one classroom, it does not meet the purpose. The intention of this money was at least to have a mega project for these areas, so that at least they can catch up in terms of food security, electricity and water supply. As it is now, the fund has missed its target and purpose. There is a lot of money that has been held still in the National Treasury. I do not know whether the money is still there or has been diverted. Always when money is given to the arid areas it has been diverted by the respective governments. As much as we appreciate that this fund will make a difference as it is, I think it will not make on any purpose for us today as Northern Kenyan people because the development is far stretched. The money was meant for 20 years. It was believed that by that time the counties of Wajir, Tana River, Mandera, Garissa, Turkana and then all these places would have developed well. Today, the NG- CDF was the only thing that we have seen that is making some impact on the ground. The money now has a lot of particulars. It goes through the CoB, the governors and the Advisory Board. It budgeting is not done at the counties, it has been done at the Advisory Board. Therefore, when you give a certain project of Kshs2 million or Kshs1.5 million, then I think that is a wrong approach for development. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}