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{
    "id": 386227,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/386227/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 56,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We then came up with the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) which was for maintenance of already constructed roads. It was assumed at that point that we were all at the same level. Therefore, we were supposed to maintain what had already been constructed. Others had no roads at all, but we were all given the same amount of money. We were told that some of the money was shared equally and equitably. Those marginalized areas which cover over 70 per cent of the land mass of Kenya were given the same amount of money as other areas which had good roads. It is a pity that even today, the component of development is still going to the so-called high potential areas. That kind of marginalisation seems to have been institutionalized. All successive Governments have been dealing with the issue like that. The Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) also took the same route. We are getting the same amount of money with small variances taking into account other factors. However, we are still assuming that we are on the same level. From the President’s Speech, I looked for that element of correction of that injustice, but it was not there. I know that others will say that in the Constitution, there is an element of the Equalisation Fund. This is 0.5 per cent and will not get us to where the others are. It took 50 years for the Government to develop other areas. We are 50 years behind and no one should expect us to develop at 0.5 per cent and catch up. I expected that kind of acceleration of development in marginalized areas to be in the President’s Speech if he wants us to be at the same level with others. The measures he has introduced might even result in further marginalization. This is what I mean. If you look at education, we are moving into the digital age. We are getting laptops for class one pupils. We are talking about free education to students to the age of 18. However, we do not have the basic facilities. We do not have the schools and we do not have enough teachers. That means that we will still remain behind, struggling to get our children to schools while others are in the digital age. I do not oppose the issue of laptops and embracing technology. But I still insist that it would have been prudent for the President to bring out clearly what he intends to do to make the marginalized areas catch up with other areas, so that we also benefit from that technology. With regard to health, he talks about free access to maternal and primary healthcare. The county I represent only has two government hospitals at the former District Headquarters; Marsabit and Moyale. A county as vast as Marsabit, covering about 16 per cent of the land mass of this country surely cannot operate on those two facilities. There are neither government facilities nor health centres. So, where will our women access the free maternal and primary healthcare services? That will still leave them marginalized while other Kenyans benefit. We will still lag behind. In that case, we would have expected acceleration in the provision of infrastructure in terms of government dispensaries and health centres so that we also benefit from that. People may be wondering how we operate there. During the time of colonialists, I think for those who may be aware, most of northern Kenya was referred to as the Northern Frontier District (NFD). It is some organizations such as the faith based organizations like churches who provided education and health services. Up to now, in most areas, they are still the ones still doing it. Therefore, we might not benefit from the Government programmes in the area of health. For us to have development, we should have electricity. Where I come from, Marsabit County, it is only Marsabit and Moyale towns where you will find power and The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}