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{
    "id": 455758,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/455758/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 126,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "Devolution was meant for the marginalised parts of this country. I want to confirm from the Floor of this House that the governors we have elected in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana, Samburu, Pokot and in some parts of the coastal region have become enemies of the people of those regions. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the 2013/2014 Budget period is coming to an end but if you visit those areas, you will not see any sign of devolved funds. I am not saying this just for the sake of it. The first object and function of the devolved governments is to promote democratic and accountable exercise of power. I am not speaking for other regions. I am speaking for the northern Kenya region. What we see in our region are governors moving around in convoys of 50 cars on the most dilapidated roads in the country, and amongst the poorest people in this country, while flying the national flag and demonstrating flamboyant power. That is not what devolution was intended for. So, we have lost the import of devolution. I am sure that the people of the northern Kenya region feel the same. Some of us chose to be Members of Parliament. We could have chosen to be governors or Senators. The developments that can be seen in the northern Kenya region today are schools and health centres that were built through the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). I am not saying this just for the sake of it. If you go to any constituency, you will see the impact of the CDF. What is the CDF? The CDF is the smallest unit of devolution in this country. The CDF is not hanging anywhere between the national Government and the county governments. The CDF is in the counties. It is the smallest unit of devolution. The smallest unit of the former Provincial Administration is the sub-location. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, what am I saying? The framers of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 gave 0.5 per cent of the national revenue to the people of the northern Kenya region and other marginalised areas. I want to tell my colleagues, please; we want your support. As you know, this is a constitutional Bill. We want you to help us raise the two-thirds majority when it comes to the final stage of this Bill. I am humbly requesting for your support. I will be on my knees. I want to tell hon. Members from the regions of this country that have produced presidents, vice-presidents and prime Ministers that it is now our time. Our numbers in the marginalised areas are small because the child mortality rate in those areas is very high due to lack of health facilities. Our children are dying. In terms of numbers, we could be more than the Kikuyu, the Luo, the Kalenjin and the Luhya people were it not for the high mortality rate that is prevalent in that region. It is not all mothers who deliver successfully in that area. The region has a high child mortality rate. We have no hospitals. Please, help us build hospitals in the northern Kenya region, and I can tell you that the pastoralists in this country will have the highest population. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we have no roads. As pregnant women go to hospital, they suffer miscarriages because of bad roads. Our youth die because of cattle rustling. My colleagues, I urge you to support us during the final stage of this constitutional amendment Bill. As the Speaker said, on the day of final stage of this Bill, even after we raise the required numbers, we will still have to come up with an Act of Parliament. I want to ask my colleagues from the rest of the country, from the Floor of this House, to support this Bill. History will judge you. 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."
}