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{
"id": 1625622,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625622/?format=api",
"text_counter": 373,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Ward and also Soba/Songor - Those wards, have been classified to get equalisation funds. I saw our local artists, DJ Kaptula, Arap Uria and a number of artists who were complaining that the roads are in a bad state. We agree with them they are in a bad state. However, it is because of lack of release of this money, so that we can fix the road from Cherondo all the way as it opens up to Imagi Trading Centre. As I apologise, because also unlike Garissa, it is raining in Nandi County; we have been blessed. Nandi has three forests; Nandi North, Nandi South and Kimondi Forest. We also have Tinderet Forest, which we share with Kericho County. That road, all the way to Kapkoros, Tinderet and to Maraba, that opens to Maraba and Taptengele, to all these other parts of Tinderet, is also part of the roads that are under Soba/Songhor. To put context on this issue of the Equalisation Fund, in fact, Nandi County benefits with four wards. That is Soba/Songhor Ward in Tinderet Sub-county; Kapchorwa Ward in Nandi Hills Constituency and Chemilil, Chemase Ward in Tinderet Constituency. That is around Kshs200 million plus. In this Kshs46.5 billion that is yet to be released, out of the 424 marginalized areas, Nandi should be the biggest beneficiary. In fact, I am coming with a Motion and I will try to appeal, because the Vice- Chairperson, Sen. Mutinda, is here, for Nandi to be given two extra wards as marginalized areas; that is Terik Ward in Aldai Constituency and Chepterwai Ward in Mosop Constituency. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, do you know we have what we call the urban poor? There are people living in Nairobi, but they cannot access the basics, including food, water and shelter. They live in Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Kibra. We imagine that since 60 per cent of GDP is in Nairobi, they are well off. The biggest threat in this nation is the urban poor because of lack of basic amenities like water, healthcare, clothing and food. In fact, I want to support and congratulate President William Ruto on the affordable housing programme, to bring dignity to many Kenyans who live in slum areas, where there is no dignity. The President is saying it is not us who are better off that should live in better housing. In this City of Nairobi, we have seen the Talanta Hela Stadium in Ngong Road--- I am surprised by the greatest urban poor. You will find that families who live in places such as Kibra do not have playgrounds. You see them when you drive during the weekend along the Eastern Bypass. They are trying to sun bathe and play with their children because there is no playground. Some of these areas in Nairobi should be classified as marginalized and be given equilisation funds. How do you account for many schools in slum areas within Nairobi? Kibra is one of the largest slums. In fact, you cannot access those places. When you go to Kiambu, you think it is one of the richest and wealthiest counties. However, there is still a lot of poverty in places like Ndeiya and many other areas such as Kajiado, Garissa, Mandera and Busia. Therefore, on this issue of equalisation, I appeal to the Committee on Finance and Budget; let us sit and re-evaluate the marginalized areas, so that we include the urban poor and cities like Nairobi, which continue to suffer under the weight of wealth. This is a city of contrast. At the far end, we have the super-rich, at the other end, we have the super-poor. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1625623,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625623/?format=api",
"text_counter": 374,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I saw the statement today on stalled projects. The Governor of Nairobi City told us “Lazima iwork” . Unfortunately, at the moment “haiwork” . I want to challenge the two leaders from Nairobi who are seated behind me to be at the forefront to ensure there are deliverables for the betterment of this country. As I conclude, on the issue of the marginalized, I would like to add something and request the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget, Sen. Mutinda, that the issue of hardship allowance must be relooked. I have seen the SRC has issued a clarification, and I want to agree with them. Under the law, they do not have any role in terms of how hardship areas or zones are declared. It is the public service department that does its job. I am aware of a report and I want to challenge Committee on Finance and Budget, because the issue of equalisation is still part of the marginalized. In this financial year, where counties are getting Kshs16.8 billion, this should be considered. I have seen a letter from the SRC clarifying that they do not have a role. In fact, under the Constitution, the role of the SRC is to only advise on issues of remuneration. I am aware there is a report that was presented through the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, where they were proposing scrapping of hardship allowances to teachers. They were saying they are saving Kshs6 billion. What will attract teachers and other civil servants to work from hardship areas? We must disagree. I totally oppose the intention of any form to remove hardship allowances for teachers and Government civil servants. There is a reason why 44 hardship zones and even more should be included. I have said in Nandi, we need to see Terik and Chepterit as hardship areas. We also need to see Kapchorwa, Soba/Songhor, Chemilil and Chemase, being declared as hardship areas among the 44. To say they want to scrap hardship allowance to save Kshs6 billion does not make sense. Therefore, I appeal that in the spirit of equalisation and the issue of marginalized areas, I agree with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to reject the intention of scrapping hardship allowances for teachers and other civil servants in the guise. In fact, this is going against Legal Notice No.534 of 1998 and Legal Notice No.196 of 2015, which declared some of these as marginalized areas. It is very unfortunate. I am aware that we should give more hardship allowances to not only teachers, but all civil servants, so that we can get somebody coming all the way from Nandi to work in Garissa, Banissa, Todonyang and Namanga. This will ensure that they are motivated through these hardship allowances. Therefore, the issue of hardship allowances and the marginalized should be married together, so that as we provide basics like roads, hospitals and schools--- There is no need for us to pass Kshs16.8 billion to go and build schools. There are no teachers to teach there because we have not given them hardship allowance. You know they complement each other. It must and should complement each other. I am aware that the CBA agreement of teachers, a collective agreement, has come to an end. I urge KNUT and KUPPET to move in and ensure that CBA negotiations are effected. The reason I am marrying that with the workforce of human resource is because you cannot give out equalisation fund without human resource. According to the United Nations (UN), you must have what we call human resource development. It is not only The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1625624,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625624/?format=api",
"text_counter": 375,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "infrastructural development, you must have what we call human resource development. It must be resourced. Therefore, the reason I am insisting on working in human resource development, we must agree that as we allocate equalisation funds, we also give hardship allowances to Government workers or civil servants and teachers inclusive. I want to appeal to the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) not to declare any strike because the Government is willing to negotiate on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Sen. Tabitha Mutinda is part of the Nairobi delegation in the Senate and she is also a practitioner in the health sector. I want to inform her alongside her colleagues of the Nairobi delegation that there is a looming strike of nurses and other clinical officers. They should be aware of the dire situation of the health sector within Nairobi City County. I want to challenge Sen. Mutinda, as the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget, to intervene on the looming strike of nurses and other health practitioners. I saw Wachira and Gibore yesterday complaining over the same. My rationale and the reasoning as I wind up, is that we should give the Equalisation Fund, but also motivate human resource that works within that region, so that you achieve the results. You cannot build a school yet you do not have teachers. You must have teachers, so that you get value for money. Today, we can say for Kshs46.5 billion to be released, we will go build a school in Kapchorwa, in Chemilil, Chemas, but where will you get the teacher who will teach that learner? I agree on the issue of Kshs504 million for the operations. What is killing counties is recurrent expenditure. In future, we should find a way of reducing this Kshs504 million for operations. I know the Finance and Budget Committee led by Sen. Ali Roba and deputized by Sen. Tabitha Mutinda can sit and agree on how they want to proceed. In conclusion, we must adhere to Article 204 of the Constitution. I still appeal that this money of marginalization should and must be released. I have heard the Mover, who is the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget, saying that CS Mbadi is appearing before them. Please, let him tell us what this Kshs46.5 billion is. We need to fix roads. As you are aware, over the weekend, I accompanied the President in the 9th Edition of the Kaptagat Forest Integrated Ecosystem Programme. I want to thank and congratulate Permanent Secretary (PS) Dr. Chris Kiptoo, who is the patron of the Kaptagat conservation efforts, for the good work he is doing in that region and as the PS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning. I accompanied His Excellency the President Dr. William Ruto for conservation efforts. I am happy you moved a Bill concerning the environment. I wished to have seen you there because you are one of the champions of conservation and climate action. I used a road that is between Simotwo all the way to Naiberi. That road is barely three years, but it is in pathetic condition. It was tarmac. When you pass through Wonifa as you go to Naiberi as you approach the one from Nyaru all the way to Eldoret--- I used the road to Simotwo, Wonifa all the way to Kipkabus and Ainabkoi. The road is in The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1625625,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625625/?format=api",
"text_counter": 376,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "pathetic state yet it has been used only for three years. The contractor of that road should be called to order and blacklisted. I am aware it was done in the previous Government. In fact, the CS for Roads then, the head who stood for that road; the supervisor and the contractor, must be called out. We have roads that were done in the 1960s that are still in good shape. On the road between Simotwo High School all the way to the other part of Keiyo and the other way to Ainabkoi, which has been there for three years, we must be told who the contractor is. That contractor must be blacklisted. The retention money that is in the account must be brought back because if we are using taxpayers money to fix a road, then use the road for only three years and potholes are all over, that road was done in a substandard manner. I want to request the Committee on Roads and Transportation to go back and investigate not only that road of Naiberi-Kipkabus, but also this other part of Keiyo all the way to Tingua, and from Tingua all the way to Ainabkoi. It is not only that. Even my road, the one I talked about today, Chepterimo University, it is barely three years in use. I am not an engineer, but the gentlemen are repairing it using murram and tarmac. I wonder why would you put murram and tarmac. I am not an engineer, but that is substandard work. We want a situation where when we fix a road with tarmac, that road should have a lifespan of 50 years before we see a pothole. The people of Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu who use that road are really suffering. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am happy that His Excellency the President took note of that road and directed that something be done. This road was done in the previous regime. The reason I speak on behalf of such is because all of us are leaders without boundaries across the nation. With those remarks, so that I allow my other colleagues to contribute and my sister to reply, allow me to graciously and with a lot of humility second this Bill. Let this money go to the villages. Let us fix our roads, schools and hospitals. The governors and the people who are in charge should know that this is taxpayers’ money. One shilling lost from taxpayers’ money is too much because Kenyans pay this tax in pain. We are all aware that there are two sure things in life; death and taxes. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to second."
},
{
"id": 1625626,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625626/?format=api",
"text_counter": 377,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you Senator. Hon. Senators can now contribute to the Bill."
},
{
"id": 1625627,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625627/?format=api",
"text_counter": 378,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(Question proposed)"
},
{
"id": 1625628,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625628/?format=api",
"text_counter": 379,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to take the Floor on this matter. There is history behind the Equalisation Fund. For those listening to us, because I know people are listening to us, apart from the equitable share the Senate passes, there is the Equalisation Fund. In the Constitution, the makers of it thought that there were parts of this country that had faced severe segregation in terms of funding and development. It used to be that in some parts of Kenya, people would enter their buses and say that they were going to Kenya. The reason the Constitution introduced this Fund was so that areas such as Tana River, which were left behind in the specific four areas; water, roads, health and The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
},
{
"id": 1625629,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625629/?format=api",
"text_counter": 380,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "electricity, could get extra funding in order to catch up with the rest of the areas that started getting these funds before us. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I stand to support the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill No.7 of 2025. Tana River will be getting Kshs719 million. Bura Constituency will be getting Kshs259,489,901. Galole Constituency will be getting Kshs196,502,469. Garsen Constituency will be getting the larger share because it has a bigger population; Kshs263,022,881. These monies, according to the Act do not go to the County Revenue Fund (CRF). Section Four of this Act specifically excludes these monies from being taken to the CRF. This means that their appropriation is faster. It is possible for this money to be released from the National Treasury and once those plans are approved, it is then possible to use this money without too much delay. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as these funds, Kshs719 million, go down to Tana River County, the people of Tana River County are looking up to seeing better water services, roads, health facilities, as well as a better reach for electricity distribution network around our county. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I urge that those who will receive these monies and who will be given the opportunity to choose the projects in the various wards, since the various wards come up with their projects, we expect proper utilization of the funds. Let us make it worth it; that all this effort we put reflect well on the ground, so that our people do not say we are just talking and they do not get information or benefits of devolution. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those many words, I beg to support. Thank you."
},
{
"id": 1625630,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625630/?format=api",
"text_counter": 381,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abdul Haji",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Karen Nyamu, please proceed."
},
{
"id": 1625631,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625631/?format=api",
"text_counter": 382,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Nyamu",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. The Equalisation Fund is not charity; it is a constitutional obligation under Article 204 of our Constitution. The people who framed the Constitution understood that if we do not deliberately empower the very forgotten corners of our country, then we risk more alienation and creating unrest in our country. Unfortunately, this noble Fund has experienced delays, bureaucracy and bottlenecks, rendering it almost dysfunctional in previous cycles. However, I am glad that this year we have a chance, because we have specific allocations where this money should be spent in our counties. The Equalisation Fund is not supposed to be politicized. It is not a way of wooing any community. We must ensure that it is going to the marginalized and not to woo numbers, as it has been traditionally done. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, urban marginalization is real. In Nairobi City County, we have informal settlements where the residents of these settlements do not have access to sanitation, have a huge population in schools and the infrastructure is poor. What is the difference between a child who walks 10 kilometers in Turkana County in search of water and a child who lives in Korogocho around an open sewer? Both are victims of lack of access to water. Tell me why the Nairobi City County child has not been catered for under this Equalisation Fund? Being close to civilization only means that this marginalization is hidden. It does not mean that it does not exist. In fact, it makes it even worse for our case. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}
]
}