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{
    "id": 976548,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/976548/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 310,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mavoko, WDM – K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Patrick Makau",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2328,
        "legal_name": "Patrick Makau King'ola",
        "slug": "patrick-makau-kingola"
    },
    "content": "you are given another Kshs100,000 or Kshs200,000 depending on your performance. That group evaluates what you are doing. It is a good thing. When the Government, in its wisdom of trying to alleviate poverty and address the issue of unemployment gave out the Uwezo Fund, it was Kshs16 million per every ward. It was supposed to encourage youth groups - both women and men as I have said - to get into entrepreneurship. I am sure it is a good fund if well-managed. I agree the Women Enterprise Fund is well-managed because there are structures. But it is upon each MP to take charge. It is a very easy fund to manage because, once you put a young person in your constituency, the District Accountant and a Fund Manager, you will be given the statements. The only challenge - just like we have with the NG-CDF - is that nowadays, they do not release money in time. But there is always money to monitor and train the groups. I have heard some Members say that the former MPs in their constituency went away with the kitty or all the funds. That is not true. The District Accountant is most likely still in that constituency and it is mandatory that he signs off the funds. It is up to us to account for those funds. Secondly, it is important to note that it is not practical to say that you can give your own money to men. We should encourage Kenyans to enjoy the existing funds. In our Standing Orders and Chapter 6 of the Constitution, you are not supposed to encourage handouts. Going forward, we should make sure that the Uwezo Fund Board releases all the monies for all the constituencies that have new MPs. When I hear Members say that they have Kshs11 million… In my kitty, I have only Kshs1 million that I have not given out. A meeting should be called immediately and the board allows an MP to vet all those groups so that, that money can stop lying idle in banks and helps our youth to engage in businesses. With those few remarks, I support the Report."
}