HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 182971,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/182971/?format=api",
"text_counter": 211,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Kones",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 53,
"legal_name": "Julius Kipyegon Kones",
"slug": "julius-kones"
},
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Let me also take this chance to congratulate hon. Kaino for bringing this very important Motion. This Motion is very critical because it will affect the way we do business in the Government and distribute the national cake to the country. If it is fully implemented, it will assure us of some level of equitable distribution of resources, especially at the grassroots level. I want to agree that we really need to convert all constituencies into districts and make corrections where a constituency has two districts, so that they fit in line with what the Motion proposes. I know the passage and implementation of this Motion will have some budgetary implications. However, this is a cost we cannot run away from. If we must do things right, then we must be ready to spend. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in creating the districts, the Government must take it as its responsibility to provide what should be the very basic for a district. The very basic in this case should constitute a district headquarters, where we will have a District Commissioner (DC) and departmental officers; a district hospital, a police division, et cetera . We want to have all the minimum offices that a district must have. This will also, to an extent, fulfil the notion of devolution of resources, which was envisaged in the past, through the proposed Bomas Draft Constitution. Hon. Members have argued here that while distributing resources, the Government should use populations of the various districts as the key factor. However, that is not enough. We have to consider the sizes of the various constituencies. We should also use the poverty index as applied in the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) allocation. More important, we need to consider the development indices of the various constituencies, so that less developed constituencies and districts can be given more consideration when allocating resources. This is something which has never been considered in the past. I am convinced that this House will pass this Motion right away. Once the Motion is passed, we should harmonise other devolved funds like the Local Authorities Transfer Fund (LATF) and the Fuel Levy Fund. I come from a district which has two constituencies. There is my October 22, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2913 constituency, which is Konoin, and Bureti Constituency. The district is called Bureti. So, I have always had problems, because whenever there are issues dealing with districts, they always mainly consider people from Bureti. However, they never distinguish between Bureti District and Bureti Constituency. The passage of this Motion will correct such anomalies, so that the name of the constituency also becomes the name of the district. Local authorities also need to be harmonised, so that they can be in line with the spirit of this Motion. A local county council can fall within one particular district only, rather than transgress across a number of districts. Finally, I am glad to note that the Government is in support of the Motion. However, in order to ensure that the Motion is fully implemented without having to rely entirely on the goodwill of the Government, I would urge the Mover to follow it up with a Bill, so that it becomes law. That way, in future, no one will use allocation of districts as a political tool. I beg to support the Motion."
}