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{
"id": 976505,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/976505/?format=api",
"text_counter": 267,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
"speaker": {
"id": 13491,
"legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
"slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
},
"content": "initially disbursed before there can be any more disbursements. This is okay, correct and appropriate. Unfortunately, the mode of collecting the money is actually not spelt out well. We now call upon the committee which we actually gazette to collect the money without any know- how, facilitation and means or knowledge of debt collection. This is why the results are poor and that is why most Members of Parliament here are complaining that they are not doing as well. In my own estimation, I would support the proposal that 5 per cent of those collections are released to the offices so that the committee members are able to collect the money they have lent out. Two, we require employees of Uwezo Fund similar to those of the Women Enterprise Fund. Instead of relying on the youth officers who are actually posted by the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Youth Affairs, we would actually do better if we had our own manager or fund officers to run the Uwezo Fund. They would actually be able to do collection better and facilitate the committee in collecting the money that is lent. There was a proposal a while ago from the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Youth Affairs that all those Funds be amalgamated into one Fund called Huduma Fund. Unfortunately, when this was brought before the Committee on Delegated Legislation, there were problems with our regulations which were proposing that. However, most importantly, the reasons why the amalgamation was refused was purely because the Youth Fund is not doing well. Uwezo Fund is doing relatively well but not as well while the Women Enterprise Fund is doing very well. We felt that there were arrears of some sort which we were injecting into the Women Enterprise Fund and which would actually render those other Funds not performing as good as they should. So, that was rejected and I still do not think this is the appropriate time to merge the Funds but, again, it is a position that this House can reconsider. As regards the Women Enterprise Fund, we are doing well. I confirmed that in my constituency of Tharaka save for the fact that we can make it better. But the officers who run the Fund are regional. They are based at Embu instead of being in the constituencies. The person they have over there in my case is actually a casual - a lady. I am always happy to report that the Chairperson of Uwezo Fund in my constituency is also a lady and she is doing a fantastic job. The other casual who is also a lady is doing a very good job. However, I think the Fund should actually consider employing those people permanently so that they are even more motivated to do their job. They are actually given the chance to do the collections, disbursements, trainings and everything else that pertains to the Fund. I would seek - and I know the Fund Managers wherever they are at Embu are listening - that those casuals be employed as permanent and pensionable employees. Otherwise, we could seek more funds especially for the Women Enterprise Fund because it is doing so well. I know of groups which are now taking the fourth and the fifth times. And if you take Kshss200,000 and you are able to repay, next time you take Kshss400,000 to Kshss500,000. Therefore, a group is getting about Kshss1 million or Kshss1,500,000 and this is the way to go. So, if there are more funds which can either be availed by this House through budgetary allocations for that Ministry, which would then go to the Women Enterprise Fund, we should not hesitate to do so. However, for the Uwezo Fund, I think we need to do more especially in terms of collections so that we can have sufficient funds in the pool whereby we can now have both men, women and youth collecting the Uwezo Fund money for their benefit."
}