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"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Zani",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is good that we are starting off with the Uwezo Fund, when we have had other funds that we can make reference to, and probably look at how they worked, where they worked and where they did not work. We should look what went wrong and try to avoid those specific pitfalls. It is always good to learn from what has happened before. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) and the Women Enterprise Development Fund (WEDF) did not work for various reasons. Some of the reasons were administrative in terms of personnel and the way they were allocated and went about doing their work. But I think also that there were lots of financial and accountability issues. There is the issue sending out clear information on where the money has gone to and which group has received what amount of money and how much of that money has been paid back. Some of the money, for example, has been given out through organizations. Those organizations then also give out the same money to smaller groupings within their communities. Then, it becomes very difficult for those organizations to follow through, collect the money and ensure that it ends up in a kitty, where it can be returned back to the original fund. Sometimes that happens because of accounting systems in those organizations and that money tends to get mixed up with the money that the organization already has. That can create a lot of problems. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, there needs to be follow-up, so that if there is any organization that is disbursing this money, it does that in such a way that there are clear follow up mechanisms. Therefore, the importance of record keeping across the board for the various organizations and groups also becomes very critical. Usually, the basis of such groupings is knowledge of each other, cohesion and levels of integration. So, in any area where it has been applied, it is important to know whether that level of integration really exists. If it does not exist, it makes the implementation very difficult. 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 Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are key things that are very critical to make the fund work. Training has already been mentioned, but sometimes when you speak about it, we just take our old training methods and train people the same old way, without putting into consideration the dynamics of new facts that have come into play, that make it very difficult for people to implement and use the money successfully. If they are being trained, what sort of modules are being used? What new innovative training capabilities are they being given, so that when they take that money, they are able to put it into some sort of entrepreneurial exercise which is very innovative? This is because, again, what tends to happen is that everybody tends to copy each other. Therefore, you will find that very little is going on in terms of profits or interests that come in as a result of that. Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir, many times also, after the training, there is no real follow up on the ground to find out that the training is actually effective and that they are doing what is expected of them. I was a visitor to a group where they were doing table banking and it was very impressive to see the level of engagement and transparency that was there. In fact, the members would sit and collect the money. The money would be counted and everybody would know what is coming in, but the key thing was that members had to re-borrow from those funds and pay back interest to that specific group, so that, that money could get generated. That is how the interest gets shared at the end of the year to everybody. But when groups are able to do that because of their levels of integration, knowledge and commitment, they are able to move to a different level and go to better places. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, therefore, even as we think about identification of the groups, because that is where the problem really is, how well do these people who are coming together know each other? What is their background and how committed are they? If they are not committed, so that they hold each other accountable, it will be almost impossible for them to pay back that money. They will actually all go to different directions. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, who, therefore, is held accountable again? In most of these groups, you will find a leader. That leader has to be dynamic, able to pull together and find a way of making things work. But, again, without the automatic cohesion in specific areas, it becomes very difficult for people to follow each other up. This is because you might find that you are following somebody up, but they are not really responding. But if there is a sense of togetherness and having a purpose, closeness, integration and cohesion that is already in place, that makes it possible for them to do that. Therefore, even as they get their interests and profits, they are able to gain from that. That is the sort of entrepreneurship that should come as a result. It should also help them to move to the next level and identify ways of using that money, so that it makes a difference in their lives. In specific counties, it is really about the various other industries supporting. For example, for the case of Kwale, we think about tourism. Women can look for vegetables, eggs, chicken or do whatever business, so that, that money can actually come back into a kitty, but be used for entrepreneurial activities. I think that, that is the way we will gain. So, it should not just be about giving money and taking it back, but giving money and growing those specific groups. We should also create a culture of accountability; that whatever money you have received, it is meant to go into a generational fund, so that it is self-generating. From the money that is paid 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 back, others should be able to benefit from that particular fund and not just have one group taking the money, using it and not accounting for it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with the various challenges, these are the ones that we need to look out for and come up with the necessary amendments, probably in the Committee tomorrow, so that we can determine how this fund can be administered. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir."
}