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{
    "id": 880551,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/880551/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 488,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wajir South, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mohamed Mohamud",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13506,
        "legal_name": "Mohamud Sheikh Mohammed",
        "slug": "mohamud-sheikh-mohammed"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I support the Report. I must congratulate my colleague, Hon. Maore, and his team for the Report. It is important that we understand that the NG-CDF is an important provision. It has been established through an Act of Parliament. It is an essential Fund. It empowers societies in the rural areas. The Constitution provides that villages should be empowered to receive the national cake wherever they are in the country. For the 290 constituencies, the NG-CDF funds have been provided through an equitable model. In my opinion, it is important that we give more consideration to far-flung constituencies in arid and underdeveloped areas. For instance, Wajir South is the second largest constituency in the country. Its size is almost equivalent to that of Rwanda, a country which is 27,000 square kilometres and Wajir South is nearly 23,000 square kilometres. Rwanda is about 27,000 square kilometres and Mandera County is about 25,000 square kilometres. Therefore, that model does not favour constituencies that are large, expansive, rural, remote and underdeveloped. The NG- CDF needs to get to people who deserve more. In that sense, although I will not propose amendments, I strongly suggest that the NG-CDF’s percentage of 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product be increased to 10 per cent. It also gives us a heartache that the little amount of 2.5 per cent of the GDP has not been disbursed accordingly and on time within the prescribed period that it ought to have been. The 2018/2019 Budget is hardly seen. A sum of Kshs12 million has been disbursed and that is not sufficient to cater for the children and young men and women who are supposed to be in tertiary institutions and secondary schools. It has taken them back. Parents who are quite poor and cannot afford fees during these difficult economic times are subjected to begging for funds to take their children to school. It is not good enough to see that this House is a sleeping tiger. I put it to the Committee on NG-CDF that they have not stood up for the Members and the poor parents. Hon. Maore and his team should stand up to that and ensure that funds are delivered within the prescribed period of time so that pupils and students can go to school. My constituency is one of the driest in the country. As expansive and dry as it is, we have quite a number of emergencies. Currently, we provide water tracking in 43 locations and sublocations. It is quite unfortunate that the funds for the counties have not been arriving on time. Therefore, the meagre amount of 5 per cent of the NG-CDF that is meant for emergencies is not there. Therefore, we are unable to serve our societies and communities in hardship situations. We want the funds to be disbursed as soon as possible. We should consider the historical good that the NG-CDF has provided. It is quite commendable. Funds disbursement must be improved. We should consider allocating more funds to larger constituencies. We have built schools, security centres and other support centres through the NG-CDF. The NG-CDF remains a very important Fund. Once again, I support the Report, but more efforts should be put to ensure that the funds are released on time."
}