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{
"id": 1626532,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626532/?format=api",
"text_counter": 208,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kibwana",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I also rise to support the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.7 of 2025), which seeks to give efforts to Article 204 of the Constitution by provision of the release and use of Kshs16.8 billion from the Equalization Fund for the Financial Year 2025/2026. I will only touch on a few key areas, so as not to repeat what has been contributed. I looked at the rationale for the Bill and the purpose. It seeks to facilitate access to essential basic services, namely water, roads, health facilities and electricity. It more or less brings marginalised areas at par with the rest of the country. This Bill provides a legal and structured framework that is required by the Constitution and Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. PFM Act that ensures that these funds are properly disbursed and utilized. Over a decade into devolution, many counties still experience pockets of marginalisation. This fund is long overdue because many residents have been hindered from enjoying the benefits of the basic services. Therefore, the Bill is timely and necessary. I will touch on the key provincials and the geographical impact. Clauses 2 and 3 authorize Kshs16.8 billion for Financial Year 2025/2026, including Kshs504 million for Equalization Fund, secretarial operations and also Kshs16.296 billion for development expenditure across 34 counties. Clause 4, explicitly excludes the funds from being deposited in the County Revenue Fund under Article 207. Clause 5 also does provide that approval for the projects will not lapse at the end of the financial year and will also remain in force until all projects are completed. Clause 6 provides that disbursements require both the CoB authorization and written instruction from the Equalization Fund Advisory Board via the National Treasury. Madam Temporary Speaker, I realize this is quite significant and that is the best that I am looking at in this Bill. This is because the Bill honours our constitutional mandate to uplift all historical marginalised regions. I have seen Sen. Mariam trying to compare Mandera County and the other counties, I feel for them. The Bill accelerates equity in development, giving vulnerable constituencies the infrastructure needed for education, health care, economic activity and dignity. Health care is key. When we moved around with the Health Committee to different counties, we realized that people are really in dire need of healthcare services. I 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": 1626533,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626533/?format=api",
"text_counter": 209,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Kibwana",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "really wish we could have different counties with state-of-the-art hospitals that take care of Kenyans. For example, a county like Laikipia was taking care of about five to six counties, Isiolo, Marsabit, Meru and others were depending on Laikipia County for health care. Then we find other counties that do not operate or do not even have theatre services even after delivery, or in case of any delivery. So, the funds are long overdue. Kenyans have been waiting for development for long time. I have seen the Bill affect over 70 constituencies across 34 counties, including Turkana, Wajir, West Pokot, Garissa, Tana Riva and others identified as marginalised. The largest allocation I have seen is Turkana County, with Kshs1.86 billion, Narok with Kshs1.25 billion, Mandera Kshs1.22 billion, West Pokot Kshs1.66 billion and Samburu Kshs1.05 billion. This is key. I support the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.7 of 2025). For that reason, it is expedited and considered as historical. If we have observed the delays in the disbursement of these funds, often towards the end of the financial year, let us act swiftly and timely to ensure that implementation, delivery of these services and development reach communities at grassroots level as soon as possible. I will only speak to that because many have discussed certain issues, and I do not want to repeat what has been discussed. I thank you."
},
{
"id": 1626534,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626534/?format=api",
"text_counter": 210,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Sen. Seki, please, proceed."
},
{
"id": 1626535,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626535/?format=api",
"text_counter": 211,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Seki",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I also wish to add my voice to the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.7 of 2025). I support this Bill because it is true that there are counties that are left behind others in the country in terms of development, particularly on infrastructure. The marginalised semi-arid and arid counties have really realized strong problems or even big problems on infrastructure, particularly water, roads and health services. This Bill comes in handy where we try to bring these counties to a level where the others are. Madam Temporary Speaker, Kajiado county has benefited with Kshs674,525,449 million. Kajiado Central Constituency has been apportioned Kshs233,919,794, Kajiado South Constituency Kshs102,681,312 and Kajiado West Constituency Kshs337,224,343. The CRA has apportioned this through the kind of research they have done. They have realized, it is true, these sub-counties are quite marginalised. For instance, Kajiado South Sub-County has very big wards with a big population, yet you hardly get a road that crosses the entire ward. People use motorbikes, bicycles or even go to market areas ony foot. It is hard for women to get even water to drink, bath or even cleaning their houses. This is a Bill that comes to equalize other areas within the county rather than the country. In reference to health services, somebody would even go for almost five to seven kilometres without getting a health centre or a dispensary. This Bill comes in handy where the county through the Equalisation Fund Advisory Board and the Secretariat will realize needs of these counties and initiate projects. It is true that we have been having this Bill all along, but its implementation is becoming a big problem. When we realize these funds are divided into small projects of 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": 1626536,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626536/?format=api",
"text_counter": 212,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Seki",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Kshs2 million, Kshs3 million or Kshs1 million, which will not bring any impact in the county. This House, the Senate, should supervise, go through and look at how this money is being appropriated or subdivided within the sub-county or the Ward, so that we see impact at that level. It should not be left to governors to give directions on how the fund is used. Sometimes they allocate the money in such small amounts that we are unable to realise its impact. We want to put in more effort to address gaps and avoid future pending bills arising from these funds. Stronger restrictions should be included in the Bill that appropriates this funds. Regulations that control this Bill should be put in place to close the gap in its implementation. I believe wards like Kimana, which have not received appropriations and those in Kajiado North like Ildamat, Kajiado South, Kajiado Central, should be considered, especially for services like electricity and other essential needs. There is also a ward like Imaroro in Kajiado East. These are the issues the Senate must follow up on to ensure that counties which have benefited also realise the impact of this funding at the sub-county level, including wards facing marginalisation. Madam Temporary Speaker, I submit and support this Bill."
},
{
"id": 1626537,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626537/?format=api",
"text_counter": 213,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
"speaker_title": "The Temporary Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": " I would like to call upon the Mover to reply. I do not have any other contributor scheduled."
},
{
"id": 1626538,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626538/?format=api",
"text_counter": 214,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I thank you. Madam Temporary Speaker. Very briefly, I support the contributions made by everyone as we all agree that this is an important piece of legislation aimed at achieving constitutional equality across the country. As I often say, in politics, I do not believe in the idea of a wrong opinion. I always view the opinion of a leader, not as being wrong, but as another opinion, perhaps different from mine. Having said that, I am pained to remind the House, even as you celebrate little allocations of around Kshs21 million from this kitty to your county and in the process denying the original 14 counties the quantum that would have made a huge difference within a period of only 20 years, please remember that there is a difference between fighting marginalisation and fighting poverty. This was a fund intended to fight marginalisation. It had been put in place because of wrong policy that was found in Sessional Paper No.10 of 1965 and the wrong attitude by governments in Nairobi that deliberately ignored certain constituencies in this country. Even as you do so, you must know that that was the spirit of the Constitution; to address this marginalisation in a period of only 20 years. The factor which now seems to be under play of using this fund to fight poverty is wrong. Poverty is fought through the formula. That is why poverty has a weighing index of 12 per cent. It will be there in perpetuity. However, fighting marginalisation was supposed to be righted in a period of only 20 years. Madam Temporary Speaker, I saw you got it very well when you were making your presentation that now that we are in year number 13. Therefore, the sunset clause should now be reviewed. If we do not review it, then the intended benefit will have been lost. 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": 1626539,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626539/?format=api",
"text_counter": 215,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I want to say only that much on this. Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to I reply. Pursuant to Standing Order No.66(3)---"
},
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"id": 1626540,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626540/?format=api",
"text_counter": 216,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(An hon Senator spoke off record)"
},
{
"id": 1626541,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1626541/?format=api",
"text_counter": 217,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "I am replying. You will have a chance, relax. Pursuant to Standing Order No.66(3), I request that the putting of the question to be deferred to a later date. I thank you."
}
]
}