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{
    "id": 517294,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/517294/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 314,
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    "content": "is a question of putting legislation into place to ensure that people do not proceed in that particular way. Looking at Section 4; the composition of the national fundraising appeals committee, the various members for that committee have been well selected and are representative. However, in Clause 3; the importance of academic background is highlighted. There should be a provision for having a university degree. That is important to ensure that things are done in a very streamlined way. The functions of the national committee include: conducting, inspecting the records and establishing mechanism for promotion of transparency. It is time that we looked at ourselves in the eyes and said that it is about time we changed the way we do things. If we do it this way, we will move from the whole issue of politicisation of harambees; that people just became popular and famous because of giving a penny here and there, without some sort of concrete and focused way for development. It will stop the abuse and distortion of funds because there will be a mechanism for people to know why they are contributing, what they are contributing to and how much is expected. The Bill even sets a provision for people to indicate the target because we realise that in many cases the target is never met. It is met only when people’s money is finished. There is a joke about a harambee meeting somewhere where they had already given all the money. When gangsters stormed into that particular fundraising and said, “Everybody, remove something from your pockets!” More money came out. So, the provision and expectation is that at a harambee, you must give until you have completely given even when targets have been met. There are people who have become rich just because of harambees and they have not bothered to account for it. The lack of monitoring and follow up has really been critical. All these are addressed in this particular Bill. As we continue to institutionalise harambees, there are very many gains. We have more people wanting to contribute. We will also have a total improvement in terms of local grants being made through donations and contributions. In the process, we will create openness in the way the grants are given and distributed to people. It will also create the aspect of promoting community control and help communities to take charge because it is not just one individual who will determine how money will be collected and used, but a committee that will sit and give a way forward in terms of what development agenda should be put into place and how the money should be used. That will enhance the social capital within the community because everybody will know what needs to be done. This will also create a lot of opportunities for learning interest, accountability and proper auditing of public funds. This is where we also have to move our mindset. We have a problem within county governments because governors have turned public funds into private funds. They feel very comfortable to do so. We need to respect public funds. One should not make them their own funds and decide how to distribute them. So, it is very important that, at the end of the day, this sort of committee leans on accountability of public funds. That will create a better image at the community, county and national level. 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."
}