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{
    "id": 937992,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/937992/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mandera North, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Major (Rtd.) Bashir S. Abdullaih",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13417,
        "legal_name": "Bashir Sheikh Abdullah",
        "slug": "bashir-sheikh-abdullah"
    },
    "content": "Remember, the Equalisation Fund was initially supposed to take care of 14 counties through the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA). But they keep on reviewing, which is part of their mandate. They have now gone deeper and said it is not supposed to take care of counties, but should go to marginalised areas. They are now covering 34 counties in marginalised areas. Marginalisation is something that we just found. Some of us were born in those places. We found ourselves there. If there was a choice, some of us would refuse and ask to be taken to county A or county B. If the Fund would have been utilised from the day we had the new Constitution up to date, we probably would not be talking about those areas. It is sad that monies are available, but they are not doing the service they are supposed to. The good thing with this Bill is that it has what we call the bottom-up approach whereby the people in those marginalised areas will sit and decide what is good for them and what essential basic services they lack and want from the Government. That is unlike the present situation whereby the Executive PSs go with their helicopters to a village, area or county and tell them that they want to do A, B, C and D for them and that, that is good for them. They then come back to Nairobi, take another year in planning and drafting, another year to disburse funds and yet, nothing is moving on the ground. This was a special purpose vehicle to ensure the marginalised areas catch up. The phrase is “catch up”. This is so that every part of this country is at par. That has not happened. One other thing that has also come to our attention is the court having pronounced itself on some of the guidelines that were sought by the Council of Governors (CoG), which have been found to be unconstitutional. This Bill is the cure for that unconstitutionality because it provides guidelines for the management and operationalisation of the Equalisation Fund. As we go through this, let us think of uplifting the living standards of all Kenyans. If all Kenyans are at par, we are good to go. Marginalisation is bad in most parts of this country. It affects 34 counties. The Government marginalises on services in all aspects - even the census. Because it is known that there is always marginalisation, it has also marginalised us in terms of numbers. As poor as they are, they give birth without services. Marginalisation is across the board, especially in terms of the census. It does not only affect Northern Kenya. I know every county is making noise so that they are part of it. Since Independence, we have had marginalisation. It is still continuing. When shall we stop talking about marginalisation in this country? About 100 or 200 years from now? It will be for as long as the people mandated to provide essential services are not doing their job. We want this Bill fast-tracked and that the Executive or the Government of the day ensures its implementation once this House pronounces itself. With those few remarks, I second the Bill."
}