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"id": 182953,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/182953/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Mwiria",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology",
"speaker": {
"id": 190,
"legal_name": "Valerian Kilemi Mwiria",
"slug": "kilemi-mwiria"
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"content": " Thank you Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to support this very important Motion. This is a Motion that we must all fight to get implemented. As politicians, let us take part of the blame. Many of the districts have been created because we asked for them. It is not like they were created by former President Moi or President Kibaki for nothing. Politicians have been asking for districts and in response they have been given. Therefore, we are also to blame. It is good that we begin by appreciating that as we ask for rationalisation of the districts. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the rules related to the creation of districts started being disrespected during the KANU regime. We used to have 42 districts but in the last 20 to 30 years new ideas came up. It became so politicised that districts were just being created all over. This is the reason that when Mr. Michuki, now a Minister, was in the Opposition, he challenged the creation of additional districts as being outside the law. He came up with a case in Court to challenge that. Unfortunately, as we have been saying, when we come to power, we do exactly the same things we were fighting against. When Mr. Michuki came in, as the Minister of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, he was spearheading the creation of other new districts. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, this is an issue that we have to come to terms with. We should not change the rules and the goal posts just because we are the ones in positions of authority. New districts are not only associated with inequalities with regard to the distribution of resources, but they are also a problem with regard to management. There is a serious problem of mismanagement. When you have sub-locations that are not rationalised, and divisions with more locations than the others as a result of District Development Committees (DDCs) meetings and deciding to create new boundaries, thereby creating many problems. There are boundaries which cut across different districts, locations and sub-locations. The issue of inequality has been spoken about. To me, this is the biggest problem. We have districts which pair up as constituencies when a lot of resources in this country are allocated depending on those boundaries. That point has already been made very strongly. If we want to be fair to every Kenyan, resources need to be allocated on a per capita basis in terms of the numbers of people in each location. That does not have to be political. That decision can be bureaucratic and one that is based on some form of efficiency. When you leave it to politics, it becomes irrational and you begin to see all sorts of unfairness. October 22, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2901 Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, we have just talked about resources, but think about the fact that when we have new districts--- The older districts have national and provincial schools, district hospitals and so on. So, when you create new districts, they begin to convert dispensaries into district hospitals. There is simply a major problem of inequality. We must realise that even as we get new districts, we are also being denied the facilities that were created for all of us when we were one larger district. That is a problem that we hardly look at. With regard to employment, when you have new districts and you create new divisions, locations, and sub-locations, it means that those districts benefit more in terms of employment, because you have new chiefs, sub-chiefs and clerks. So, there are many jobs that are hidden that come with the creation of new districts. Therefore, I agree with hon. Members who have said that we need to redraw the boundaries on the basis of the population but also consider land mass. There are districts that require same resources as small districts just by virtue of the distances that have to be covered. Long distances can also be a problem with regard to development if infrastructure is not available. So, we should not forget that there are issues related to land size as we redraw boundaries. We should begin with constituencies. If we argue that we are going to have a district per constituency as do it as it is, then we will still be continuing with the same unfairness that we are talking about. So, let us redraw constituencies boundaries if we want to make a case, so that the new districts are equivalent to constituencies, and so that some hon. Members do not complain that by going by constituencies for districts those of us who had larger constituencies are disadvantaged. We do not want to continue raising this kind of argument. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, when we redraw the boundaries and ensure that each constituency is a district, then we have to make sure that each constituency, which will be a district, has more or less the same facilities as others, in terms of district headquarters, which the Government must fund, and new schools of high quality. Each district should have two or three top schools so that we can compete equally. If we have the best schools in some constituencies or districts, then those who do not have those facilities will be disadvantaged. District hospitals should also be there and fully supported across the board and should be uniform. Police stations should also be the same. Unless, we do that, it is going to be pointless to just create districts and constituencies, where there is no equity in terms of how you distribute not only the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), but other facilities that are required in districts. That includes employment. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as we merge the constituencies with districts, we should also merge the functions and the resources. I think it is pointless to leave the District Commissioner (DC) with so much resources that Members of Parliament do not have control over. The resources for roads and the money that goes to the DC for various functions should be put together with the money for the CDF, so that we have one kitty that has Kshs100 million instead of Kshs50 million. The DCs, other administrators and councillors can be invited to make decisions on how those resources should be spent. That way, we will get one kitty and decide how to spend it. As it is now, there is a lot of corruption in the district headquarters. I am not saying that there is no corruption with the way the CDF money is used. There is so much corruption in the way people are recruited and the way the money available to the DCs is spent. Until we merge, these functions are still going to be a problem in terms of how much leeway the DCs are going to have and how they utilise the resources that are available. This matter requires all over us working together and forgetting our political parties, tribal chiefs and our own ethnic communities. In the long run, we represent people and our interest should be in the people we represent more than in the people who lead our political parties or those who decide who becomes a Minister or an Assistant Minister. If we appreciate our first responsibility as Members of Parliament is our constituents, then we are likely to work more 2902 PARLIAMETARY DEBATES October 22, 2008 rationally. We should not be like sheep, and just follow people as if we do not do that, we will all die. Time has come when we must rise to the occasion. The way to solve problems in this country is not for all the Kamba Members of Parliament to crowd around their tribal chief, all the Mt. Kenya people to say that they have to go behind So and So, all the Members of Parliament from Nyanza Province to say that they have to stand behind a particular person or all the Kalenjins to say that this is our man. That is backward. If Members of Parliament cannot think, then who should? If they cannot make independent decisions--- Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, regarding matters to do with the Kriegler and the Waki reports, the people who have been mentioned, Members of Parliament should be able to speak in one voice and say enough is enough for the sake of the people that we represent and for a better future in this country. Are there not enough Members of Parliament who could be Ministers if the people who have been mentioned are removed? Are the people from Rift Valley saying that they do not have other people who are as good as those who have been mentioned? Is that what the people from Central Province are saying? If you say that, then you have no business being in this House. If you say that you are not qualified and that only a particular person can lead you irrespective of the things that they have been associated with, then you have no business being in this Parliament. I think we should stand up and tackle that and other issues for the sake of a better country. Thank you."
}