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{
    "id": 525381,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/525381/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 411,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Three quarters of my county, Tharaka-Nithi, is sparsely populated, but one of the richest deposits of iron ore are found there. Tharaka-Nithi County is sparsely populated, but it has iron ore deposits which, if exploited, can save this country Kshs70 billion annually which this country spends on importing steel and other products in that industry. So, Madam Temporary Speaker, I would urge us to increase the amount of money that is shared equally to 50 per cent. The reason why the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) has worked fairly well; the reason why the differences between the constituency that is getting the highest amount and the one that is getting the lowest is not so big is because the percentage that is shared equally is very high. That is the reason. But if we sit here and say “let Nairobi get Kshs11 billion while Lamu gets Kshs2 billion, then what is the purpose of devolution? Nairobi has the best hospitals in the country and in East Africa; it has the best roads, the best universities; they are collecting Kshs18 billion every month in cess. So, if you punish Lamu, Isiolo, Samburu and Tharaka-Nithi, what is the purpose of devolution? Devolution came to make sure that Marsabit County can access levels of development that can attract investments and economic utilization of the resources in that county so that you can equalize it with the rest of Kenya. Madam Temporary Speaker, I strongly oppose this criteria; I will oppose it now and I will oppose it even outside this House; this is a deadly criteria. If we proceed this way, we are balkanizing Kenya more; we are saying “let the rich counties continue getting richer while the poorer counties like Siaya, Tharaka-Nithi and Isiolo will continue getting nothing.” This is actually unconstitutional because the spirit of devolution is the spirit of equalization. Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to oppose."
}