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{
"id": 81590,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/81590/?format=api",
"text_counter": 303,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Ogindo",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 120,
"legal_name": "Martin Otieno Ogindo",
"slug": "martin-ogindo"
},
"content": "I am aware that the CDF came into being in 2003. The reason as to why the CDF was created was so that poverty could be tackled at the constituency level. It is against this background that the CDF Act, 2003, was enacted. Before the CDF was created, in 2003, there was no basis of allocation of resources. For that reason, the CDF money was equally distributed across all the constituencies. In the subsequent years, distribution of CDF resources was based on a survey which was conducted some time earlier, but which was published in 2005. That is the Geographic Dimensions of Well Being in Kenya survey. From that survey, the Central Bureau of Statistics was able to generate poverty indices, which have been used to date. The Kenyan public has become accustomed to this formula. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, subsequently, in 2005/2006, another survey was carried out. This was the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey. The report on this survey was published in 2007. The publication of this survey was met with some outcry. It did appear that a lot of people in this country were shocked at the revelations that the report made. It was from that outcry that this report has continued to be shelved for the past two or three years. The Ministry of Planning, National Development and Vision 20320, according to its report that was tabled here yesterday by the Minister, intends to use this survey. It is my prayer that the use of this new survey will be an improvement on the older survey. However, it is important that this country seizes this opportunity to once and for all deal with the issue of the formula for resource allocation. The current distribution formula for CDF is that the 75 per cent of the allocation is normally distributed equally across all the constituencies. The remaining 25 per cent is distributed according to poverty indices as weighed against the national poverty index. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the new Constitution seeks to devolve much more funds than the old Constitution devolved. It is important that Kenya as a nation seizes this opportunity to once and for all deal with the issue of the formula for resource distribution. In doing so, it would be important for this country as a whole to seize this moment and come up with formula which will ensure that the entire country is equitably resourced. I am under no illusion that there can be a formula which will make resource allocation the same across the country, but it is important that, as patriotic Kenyans, who are mindful of the welfare of the entire country, we are guided by the principle of equity. It is not in my mind to pick a quarrel on which areas are gaining and which areas are losing, but it is my view that, as a patriotic Kenyan, a formula be established to equitably address the issue of resource allocation. We are aware of data that has been generated in the past. I have no intention of âfightingâ statistical data, but in the past we have had reports which displayed certain patterns on poverty levels in the country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, previously, the poverty level indices were used for planning purposes, but in recent times the poverty level indices have been used for resource allocation. It is very disturbing that the poverty levels change when they are being used for resource allocation. I am aware that in the event that we operationalize Chapter Eleven of the Constitution, where the RAC is provided for, as a matter of responsibility, the RAC will have to formulate a formula. So, instead of changing this formula again and again, I think it is important that this country holds its horses and then we get a new formula, which will take us forward in the new constitutional dispensation. It is incomprehensible to understand, for example, how the poverty levels in the larger Kitui County have reduced vis-Ă -vis the poverty levels in Machakos. From that area alone, you are able to see that, indeed, there are issues with the new survey that the Minister of Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 is about to adopt. The other areas that have shown marked improvement are Nyanza---"
}