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{
    "id": 438739,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/438739/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 243,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Dido",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2749,
        "legal_name": "Col (Rtd) Ali Rasso Dido",
        "slug": "col-rtd-ali-rasso-dido"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. From the outset, I wish to thank the Chairman and the Committee on Budget and Appropriations. I also want to thank them for having done bottom-up budgeting where they have been able to involve the population. The first item which I want to pick out instantly is the Constituencies Development Fund. I want to share with the Chairman that this is the only money that leaves the National Treasury and leaves trail of how it has been used. It is also the single national resource that our people have been able to see and feel. I, therefore, think that the increase in the allocation of CDF from what it was in 2013/2014 Financial Year, to what has been projected in 2014/2015 Financial Year is very welcome. I think our people are going to benefit from that. This Budget is anchored on pillars. I just want to pick up two pillars. The first one is food security. One of the major problems in Kenya today, and it has been found to be prevalent in 14 counties, is food insecurity or hunger. If the population does not get enough food, then I think it reduces the factor of production. The second one is entrenching devolution. I think this is an area that calls for a wider national debate. Devolution must bring services closer to our people. If it does not bring that, then we may say that devolution is just empty talk. The allocation is trying to show us that we must walk devolution. The question that I keep on asking myself is, if I am able to feel the Kshs100 million or Kshs70 million that goes into my constituency, what about Kshs567 billion that goes into counties? Why is that money not being felt? Whereas we have given money to the Ministry of Devolution and National Planning, resources must be directed, focused and there must be oversight to ensure that resources are used properly. The other area is health. I think in health, we are seeing debate where services have been devolved to the counties, but still some of it is held at the national level. For many of the rural constituencies, the problem we are seeing at the moment is lack of capacity at that level but also lack of infrastructure to go with the devolved service. Therefore, whereas there is allocation of resources, these resources must support the people within those constituencies and counties. Many of the former district hospitals or provincial hospitals are today considered as Level 4, Level 5 or even Level 3. But that must go along with resources. A patient in Marsabit cannot be referred to Meru, whereas the hospital in Marsabit is a Level 4 hospital but it lacks the basic infrastructure to be able to meet the needs of the people. A good example is blood transfusion. When a Level 3 or Level 4 hospital lacks the basic thing like blood transfusion then it means that the hospital cannot save lives. I also think within this Budget, the allocation to National Land Commission and other national institutions is important. What we must guard against is duplicity of functions. The other area is water. I want to tell the Chairman that I come from a water scarce area, which is Marsabit. Among the five dams which were planned and programmed under former President Mwai Kibaki was Badasa Dam. This dam has already consumed about Kshs3 billion and it is not complete. Unfortunately, I notice that in this Budget, Badasa Dam has not been factored but still my people are crying for water. The other area is orphans and vulnerable children. I am happy the Budget and Appropriations Committee allocated additional Kshs120million. This is good and is The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}