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{
    "id": 896345,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/896345/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 256,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kilifi North, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Owen Baya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13373,
        "legal_name": "Owen Yaa Baya",
        "slug": "owen-yaa-baya"
    },
    "content": "areas that have continued to be marginalised for a long time. Unfortunately, the President did not discuss this or highlight his efforts in trying to ensure that Article 204 of the Constitution prospers as intended by the drafters of the Constitution. Today, the National Treasury has been the biggest stumbling block towards the Equalisation Fund that the Constitution bestowed in areas which were initially marginalised. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the drought that is now ravaging the country is in areas that were initially marginalised because there was no investment in many areas while other areas had bigger investments. The Constitution set aside money specifically for such marginalised areas because the drafters knew this was one of the ways of fighting drought. The President's Address never talked about drought yet at the moment the country is suffering from severe drought. But in the State of the Nation Address, the President did not see that as a problem of the country and did not say anything about it. Every year, the country goes through a cycle of drought where cattle and people die and yet we sit on a kitty that is half per cent of the national Budget that is meant to help us solve these problems. The money is never released to solve the problem. I do not know whether the President in his mind feels he has no obligation to the Article of the Constitution. He swore that he will protect the Constitution. One of the Articles he needs to look at and protect is Article 204 of the Constitution to ensure that this country develops as one nation. The unity of a nation will not be judged by how much we speak, but it will be about bridging the economic gap that exists in this country. The economic gap that exists in the country is what brings disunity. Many countries in the world that have experienced economic gaps like the chasm we have in the country have been torn apart because people see they are not part of the centre. In the next President's Address on the State of the Nation, I hope and look forward to hearing him speak about issues that are important and pertinent like the Equalisation Fund."
}