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{
"id": 1521312,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521312/?format=api",
"text_counter": 193,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1521313,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521313/?format=api",
"text_counter": 194,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Loud consultations)"
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{
"id": 1521314,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521314/?format=api",
"text_counter": 195,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Order! Order! Hon. Members, let us proceed."
},
{
"id": 1521315,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521315/?format=api",
"text_counter": 196,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I just want to tell Hon. Robert Basil that you never tell a woman that she has not dressed well unless you have admired something. Having said that, allow me to support the Equalization Fund in terms of administration. I am very sad that ever since I was a nominated Senator, we have always spoken about the Equalization Fund — how we can administer it to support our people. Hon. Deputy Speaker, when we put this in the Constitution, it was meant to ensure that marginalised areas receive the necessary support, especially from the national Government. This was so that projects such as water, sanitation, health, and roads would be adequately supported. However, to date, in every parliamentary term since 2013, we have had to look at the Equalization Fund. I hope this will be the last time, and we will finally administer it effectively. The good thing is that we have broadened our scope. Many areas are marginalised, not just the counties we initially thought were marginalised. The Government should focus on projects that cut across counties. For example, health facilities should be prioritised. We need to ensure that the Government supports those projects to completion. We had projects funded by the National-Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) that were left incomplete when we moved to devolution. These projects have been hanging, and public resources have already been spent on them. That is also important as we look at this Bill. When I look at the Senate Bill and its proposals, the first is establishing a framework for administration and management. The other concerns completing projects under policies The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1521316,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521316/?format=api",
"text_counter": 197,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "developed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) under Article 216. This means the board they are proposing is different and intended to look at different projects. I hope the advisory board will go beyond just oversight and look across the country at projects that have utilised public resources. Specifically, projects that were 80 to 90 per cent complete and funded by the National Government should be finished so people can use them. Even as the Senate proposes an office to administer the Fund, which shall open a separate account at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), we need to be cautious. If we are not careful, this could create challenges. I would suggest identifying a project without introducing a pending bill if asked. Similar to how the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and NG-CDF are managed, we could set up a committee in the area to oversee the project. This would ensure that the money goes directly to the project. However, if, again, we say it will operate and maintain books of accounts and consult the Cabinet Secretary for approvals, the project will not move forward. We must have a committee in the area where the project is located to oversee the money. The mandatory signatory must ensure that the funds are used directly to complete the project identified under the Equalization Fund. Hon. Deputy Speaker, there are many factors to consider. The crucial question is whether the Equalization Fund will benefit these counties successfully after all this. In a few years, can we identify projects funded by the Equalization Fund and see them completed? More importantly, how will these projects benefit the people in these counties?"
},
{
"id": 1521317,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521317/?format=api",
"text_counter": 198,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Another aspect we need to address is whether the Equalization Fund, for example, in the case of electricity, is effectively reaching the counties. Are the last-mile connections we make in constituencies benefitting the counties as intended? The Report presented to the House should show that the last mile was completed and that constituencies in areas qualifying for the Equalization Fund now have electricity. By doing that, we can move past the issue of electricity and focus on other areas like water, sanitation, and roads. If we identify roads in those counties as part of the Equalization Fund, why can we not have a report showing that these trunk roads, alongside other projects like electricity, are complete? This would demonstrate that the Equalization Fund has contributed to improving the livelihoods of marginalised communities. Hon. Deputy Speaker, we also need to consider what the Senate has proposed regarding the functions of the county technical committee. This Committee will be responsible for approving projects to be financed, which is critical. However, they suggest that no more than two public officers designated by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) with technical expertise should be part of the Committee. Additionally, they say not more than two public officers appointed by the Cabinet Secretary with similar expertise in areas of prioritised projects. To avoid duplication, it would be more efficient to have two representatives: one from the county and one from the Cabinet Secretary. At the county level, more members are needed, but if the Cabinet Secretary appoints one, it could work better. The Committee includes chairpersons of the Project Identification and Implementation Committees within the sub-county and the secretary of the Constituency Development Fund. It is a good committee, but I wonder about including the secretary of the constituency development fund. Given the complexity of this Committee's work, the roles of each member need to be clearly defined in the regulations. This would ensure that they do not find themselves in constant back-and-forth arguments. It will prevent too much politicking on projects. Also, it says that the board should ensure that a Project Identification and Implementation Committee is established in every eligible county. The Assistant Sub-County Commissioner shall head this Committee. It will also have village administrators of the areas defined by the Commission as marginalised and representatives of women, youth and persons with disabilities from marginalised areas. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1521318,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521318/?format=api",
"text_counter": 199,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The Equalisation Fund has many committees to deliver what is needed. When you have such committees, sometimes the struggle to reach an agreement on how to move hinders the implementation of the Fund. While I support the Bill, it is necessary to look at it and ask whether we really want this Fund to function. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
},
{
"id": 1521319,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521319/?format=api",
"text_counter": 200,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Deputy Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Member for Masinga."
},
{
"id": 1521320,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521320/?format=api",
"text_counter": 201,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Masinga, Independent",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joshua Mwalyo",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this Equalisation Fund and Administration Bill, Senate Bill No. 14 of 2023. The Senate passed this Bill about a year-and-a-half ago, precisely 16 months ago. It was waiting for this House to debate, pass, and enact it into law. This Fund was established by Article 204 of the Constitution in 2010 and provided 1.5 per cent of the audited National Government Fund as the Fund to be used for the Equalisation Fund purposes. This Fund was meant to be an equaliser, as its name suggests: the Equalisation Fund. It is supposed to address areas that were marginalised through historical injustices. These areas were never considered. They did not have hospitals and little facilities like health centres. This Fund was meant to be an equaliser so that marginalised areas could have water and roads. Its purpose is very good. The country will be governed equally, and everybody will feel that they belong to this country. Some time back, I used to hear some people in this county say, \"When you go to Kenya, greet Kenyans.\" That meant they never saw any development in their areas compared to other parts of the country. As a result, they would say: \"When you reach Kenya, greet the Kenyans and tell them that we are still around.\" I do not want to mention the affected areas, although I used to hear much of that in our area. These are the areas that need to be developed so that they can catch up with other areas. I am sure we have seen many developments in some of the marginalised areas and how things have improved because of this Fund. The only undoing of this Fund is the Exchequer delays in releasing it. The delays happen until another Budget cycle is realised. However, the beauty of this Fund is that its money does not go back to the national Treasury. It is retained in the same way that the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) money is retained. Once the NG-CDF money is sent to the NG-CDF Board, it does not go back to the Treasury. This Bill has been crafted in the same way. The Fund will be administered in the same way. During the 2023/2024 Financial Year, my constituency was given an Equalisation Fund worth Ksh13.5 million. A hospital and a bore hole were earmarked for installation and implementation in different places. However, until now, monies from the Fund have not been sent to the account to be channelled to my Constituency. There are many delays in the disbursement of this Fund. We need to bring an amendment. This Fund is mainly for marginalised areas, like my constituency, which is the only such constituency in Machakos County. The Equalisation Fund money has never come up to now. This year's Equalisation Fund money has already been allocated. However, the money for the 2023/2024 Financial Year has not been wired to our constituencies. We can propose an amendment for the funds to be wired to the accounts of the NG-CDF through its board. That is a straightforward Fund managed by the Fund's Accounts Manager. The projects can be identified in the same way we identify our projects. That can be an easy way of implementing the Fund. If the Fund passes through the account commissioner, its money will get lost there. I do not know if it will be administered. We shall keep talking about this Fund. However, a further amendment will be required on how the money should be channelled and where it should be channelled so that areas budgeted for the Equalisation Fund are not disadvantaged for an entire year without its implementation. The Fund can be a good equaliser in some areas. When we go for the NG- The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1521321,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1521321/?format=api",
"text_counter": 202,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Masinga, Independent",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Joshua Mwalyo",
"speaker": null,
"content": "CDF inspections, we find places that are properly marginalised, yet the Equalisation Fund is not administered there. So, the Fund should be run better. The mapping of marginalised areas should be done again. Some people have already mapped areas for equalisation that were not there before. So, that exercise has somehow been abused. We need to be strict in administering the Equalisation Fund so that all the marginalised areas can get their share of it. With those few remarks, I rest my case."
}
]
}