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{
    "id": 769351,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/769351/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ekomwa",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2940,
        "legal_name": "James Lomenen Ekomwa",
        "slug": "james-lomenen-ekomwa"
    },
    "content": "telling the Government that it has to ensure that the first thing that is in place is actually the NG- CDF Committees. This House resolves so many things. We are preparing to employ people like Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries (PSs). However, our own welfare and our funds, which we oversee, are not yet in place. Do you think we will be in a conducive environment to do such things if the welfare of Members is not considered? It is not in order for us to vet some things in this House when our own issues have not been addressed. Therefore, we are calling on those who are responsible to ensure that the NG-CDF funds are deposited in the constituency accounts so that when we go there, we can make sure that the constituents have received their right. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is not enough to tell you the truth. What really happens is that when we go to our constituencies, so many people look at Members of Parliament as they are beggars. We are leaders. I want to tell Kenyans wherever they are that the most expensive job, and whose hold bears massive responsibility in this nation is to become a Member of Parliament. If people could see the tribulations that Members of Parliament go through in order to be elected as a leader, it is very difficult. Those who do not know the role of a Member of Parliament are very wrong in the way they perceive us. I can give you an example. If the NG-CDF funds are availed, and you go to a home of a Member of Parliament, you do the work of Red Cross and the work of the benevolent fund in terms of making sure that you bury people. You also do the work of emergency relief in making sure that you provide to the people who are hungry. You do the work of a doctor. You make sure that you have taken those who are sick to hospital. You do the work of ensuring that those who do not have school fees are provided with school fees. That has not been accounted for. That is our role because as Members of Parliament, you need to have passion, to be patient and to be resilient. People should understand that we did not come here to seek for wealth. We came here to serve people, to sacrifice and be resilient. So, when some people see Members of Parliament saying, “Please make sure that the funds are in the constituencies’ bank accounts,” it is because they understand the burden that is bestowed upon them. They know the burden they have and the difficulty they face when they go there. That is why we are saying that all the funds that are meant for the needy must be in place in the right time so that the issues that we deal with as Members of Parliament can be mitigated or minimised. We cannot underrate the role of NG-CDF. If we analyse, scrutinise and compare the development that has been done by county governments and that which has been done by the NG-CDF, you will appreciate that one done by the NG-CDF. With the NG-CDF, we respect the scriptures that say that when you are given little, make sure you maximise it. I will give you an example. With the NG-CDF, you can construct a road using Kshs2 million. The same 10- kilometre road can be constructed by a county government using Kshs15 million. This means that NG-CDF funds are used in the right manner. The NG-CDF funds are used cost-effectively compared to the funds being misused by county governments. There are reasons why the NG-CDF is very important. It is a devolved function and has a committee that oversees it. However, there is no committee to oversee the funds of the county government. Use of those funds is decided at the county headquarters. We tell the governors responsible that even as the funds come to the county governments, they must be devolved back to the wards. We want to hear specific county governments having ward development committees just the way the NG-CDF Committee has eight or 11 members sitting to decide on those funds. We also want to see the ward development committees setting aside specific funds 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."
}