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{
"id": 1626522,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626522/?format=api",
"text_counter": 198,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mariam Omar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The other issue is bureaucracy. This is because one has to request it through the office of the Controller of Budget (CoB), Equalization Fund Advisory Board and the National Treasury. The bureaucracy makes the process of getting the money long hence its takes long for the money to be used on time. In my opinion, we do not need of the Equalisation Fund Advisory Board. This money can be requested through the office of the CoB and the National Treasury. Why do we need to go to the Equalisation Fund Advisory Board? I think that is the reason as to why this implementation takes long."
},
{
"id": 1626523,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626523/?format=api",
"text_counter": 199,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mariam Omar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We have a problem with electricity. We were in darkness for six months and later on the Ministry gave us some generators instead of solarizing the system. We have sunlight in our region, which can provide enough light in the entire Mandera County. Instead of purchasing the generators, the people in Government should think of how they can use the nature, the sun, which is in plenty. The road from Mandera to Nairobi is now under the World Bank. His Excellency the President promised that its construction will be completed by the end of this term. We, the residents of Mandera County, appreciate the initiative that he took to complete Isiolo-Mandera County Road. With the use of the Equalisation Fund, we now have the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Mandera County. That college has about 2,000 students."
},
{
"id": 1626524,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626524/?format=api",
"text_counter": 200,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) left the Chair]"
},
{
"id": 1626525,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626525/?format=api",
"text_counter": 201,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Mumma) in the Chair]"
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"id": 1626526,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626526/?format=api",
"text_counter": 202,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mariam Omar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We, the leaders of Mandera County, must think of how we can help our people. Usually, women are the most affected when it comes to water issues. They have to carry water for a long distance. As a woman representative, I request the County Government to look at its priorities. Solving water issues should be one of the priorities for women to be engaged in other activities instead of searching for water."
},
{
"id": 1626527,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626527/?format=api",
"text_counter": 203,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mariam Omar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "It is important for us to note that 90 per cent of voters in all the 47 counties are women. So, they have to put in place measures that will help them, especially when it comes to water and health facilities which directly affect them. The services in the health facilities have improved because of the Social Health Authority (SHA). People are now not paying money because SHA is paying their bills in Level 4 hospitals."
},
{
"id": 1626528,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626528/?format=api",
"text_counter": 204,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mariam Omar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "We need a strategy to manage the Equalisation Fund. This money can be effective when given in portions. They can release it once or twice. Giving it in bits of Kshs1 million or Kshs2 million will not help eradicate marginalisation. We have to sit down and think of the function of the fund. It is supposed to ensure that there is equalisation and eradication of marginalised areas for all areas to have water and roads. Giving that money in bits makes it difficult to improve this. We also need to improve on irrigation. Northern Kenya’s economy heavily relies on pastoralism. We have to change our mindsets from livestock to agriculture through this fund. We have to come up with ways of irrigating our land by construction major dams. We can then harvest flood water which can last for 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": 1626529,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626529/?format=api",
"text_counter": 205,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mariam Omar",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "two years or three years. We can change the status of our people through agriculture by irrigation. I support."
},
{
"id": 1626530,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626530/?format=api",
"text_counter": 206,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, Equalisation Fund was set up in 2004. The purpose was to bring at par in terms of development and achievements, 14 counties that had been neglected for many years, including my county. The funds were not released immediately. It stayed for a long time in the National Treasury before it was distributed. It accumulated a lot of money and to date, the money has been released in bits. My county is now receiving Kshs1.6 billion, but this is insignificant because it has been again split into small bits of money ranging from Kshs1 million to Kshs2 million. This money, if well utilized, could have made some significant improvement. When it went to the counties, the money was further split into small bits. The purpose of having one major project that will have a long-term benefit cannot be achieved because this money was split further. A committee was formed and now it is actually under the control of the Governor. The money is now being used to lure some supporters and all these things. Splitting the money into small bits misses the whole purpose. This money was initially meant for 14 counties. Probably many other counties had similar problems, but now there are 34 counties. The Kshs16 billion that has been released is actually insignificant for these counties to make a big stride on development. Madam Temporary Speaker, the only way we can achieve something in these counties, especially in Northern Kenya such as Turkana and Wajir to come at the par with other parts of Kenya in terms of development is to have a major investment in development such as mega dams. When you give a small area or a certain centre, Kshs1 million or Kshs2 million for electricity, I think it does not meet the purpose. When you give that same money to build one classroom, it does not meet the purpose. The intention of this money was at least to have a mega project for these areas, so that at least they can catch up in terms of food security, electricity and water supply. As it is now, the fund has missed its target and purpose. There is a lot of money that has been held still in the National Treasury. I do not know whether the money is still there or has been diverted. Always when money is given to the arid areas it has been diverted by the respective governments. As much as we appreciate that this fund will make a difference as it is, I think it will not make on any purpose for us today as Northern Kenyan people because the development is far stretched. The money was meant for 20 years. It was believed that by that time the counties of Wajir, Tana River, Mandera, Garissa, Turkana and then all these places would have developed well. Today, the NG- CDF was the only thing that we have seen that is making some impact on the ground. The money now has a lot of particulars. It goes through the CoB, the governors and the Advisory Board. It budgeting is not done at the counties, it has been done at the Advisory Board. Therefore, when you give a certain project of Kshs2 million or Kshs1.5 million, then I think that is a wrong approach for development. 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": 1626531,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626531/?format=api",
"text_counter": 207,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Abass",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "For the six years remaining for the fund, at least to achieve something good, all the funds that have been held in National Treasury should be released and not in small bits. At least we could have a major impact and development can be done in the few remaining years. Otherwise, the time-frame should be reviewed, so that we can have a significant development for these areas. Giving 0.5 per cent is also not something that can help those areas in terms of development because there are no roads and the water is scarce. There is always drought every five years. Therefore, food security is actually a problem. I will request National Treasury and the Government, and those who are making the budget, to at least look into reviewing the period for these special funds. I support."
}
]
}