{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=155383","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=155381","results":[{"id":1572012,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572012/?format=json","text_counter":233,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Ndhiwa, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Martin Owino","speaker":null,"content":"those areas. Teenage pregnancies have reduced because of sustaining kids in school because education is an equaliser in all this. We appropriate money to the Ministry of Education, but we do not see what that money does on the ground, including infrastructure, which is even supported internationally. Therefore, I speak on behalf of the people of Ndhiwa. Classrooms have been decongested. Laboratories were built so we can compete with schools like Alliance High School. Water provisions have been provided for as well as sports facilities. However, I do not know why sports was removed because we were very active in our constituencies. We used to be in charge of sports as well. Hon. Temporary Speaker, when we talk about national ethos, including value for money, equity, inclusivity and emergency responses, that is the heart of NG-CDF notwithstanding the devolved units. But they do not respond to emergencies. We are even being pushed to respond to toilets as emergencies, which should not be the case. What happened with the capitation we give to the ministries? Where do they take their money? So, mine is to protect what is working and entrench it into the Constitution. In fact, if we were to rewrite the Constitution, this would be the most important decentralised Fund in the 290 constituencies. We would not even think of the 47 counties. The monies would have been channelled through it and we would see the impact it would have had in these areas. Lastly, entrenching this into the Constitution will cure what we call oxymoron-ism of leadership, where one says one thing but do the other. What NG-CDF does is seen and because it is people-driven, public participation is a must, approval system is up to the board and we even have a committee in this House that oversees that board. So, the whole system should be replicated in other areas of activity. Those who are jealous of its functionality should copy what NG-CDF does. Without belabouring on the obvious, allow me to say, I support this and Members, if where representation is needed this afternoon, it is in this House. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker."},{"id":1572013,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572013/?format=json","text_counter":234,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Martha Wangari","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Cynthia Muge, Member for Nandi."},{"id":1572014,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572014/?format=json","text_counter":235,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Cynthia Muge (","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Nandi County, UDA): Thank you very much Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this very important Motion on the Floor of the House. I appreciate Hon. Otiende Amolo and Hon. Chepkonga for the very thoughtful time and sentiments they have put together into this Bill so that, finally, the NG-CDF, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and the newly added Senate Oversight Fund can be entrenched in the Constitution. The NG-CDF and NGAAF for so many years have been facing a lot of legal challenges. And this is an opportunity to ensure that those legal challenges finally go away. We will also deal with ambiguities and make sure that people understand the structures of NG-CDF and NGAAF. It has come to my attention that many people, including the beneficiaries of NGAAF and NG-CDF, do not understand how the structure works. That is why we hear Members, especially the patrons of NG-CDF, saying that students text them on their phones. It is also high time that people in this country, including the beneficiaries and those people who run institutions and organisations, understand how structures work. The NG-CDF and NGAAF have a structure. Speaking of NGAAF, I wish people knew that there is a structure that runs it. Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to say that the people who have attached NGAAF and NG-CDF to Members of Parliament are not Members themselves. They are people outside there. In the structure, there is nowhere a Member of Parliament, who is a patron of NG-CDF, runs the 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":1572015,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572015/?format=json","text_counter":236,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Cynthia Muge (","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"operations of NG-CDF. The same applies to NGAAF. As a County Women Representative, I do not run NGAAF. I am just a patron; I am just an oversight authority for NGAAF. I make sure that all the money that has been allocated for NGAAF is used for that purpose. I ensure that the percentages that are allocated for women's economic empowerment are used for that particular purpose and that the money that has been ringfenced for bursaries and scholarships is used for that particular purpose. I am in full support of the entrenchment of NGAAF and NG-CDF because the importance of the two Funds cannot be gainsaid. Before NGAAF and NG-CDF came in, for instance, in my county, there were no direct empowerment projects that went to the people. But with NGAAF, that needs to be entrenched in this Constitution, we now have members of the community: women, youth, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups able to access funds for empowerment. We find groups in the villages like the Momba Boda Boda Group in Tinderet, which has Ksh300,000 that they can use to better their operations as operators in the boda boda sector. The Oasis Women Group in Kabiyet can now run their businesses, invest in business, get income and have money in their pockets, courtesy of the same NGAAF. Today, Nandi County boasts of more than 700,000 seedlings of Kahawa that have been given out under the Mama na Kahawa Programme. The programme, in the next three years, will bear proper fruit; we will see fewer people going to the NG-CDF and NGAAF offices to look for funds because they will pay their school fees. This is equity that we have always looked for and have wanted to see in every aspect of this life. I cannot give enough accolades to NG-CDF. For me to be here today, I am a product of the NG-CDF. I got a bursary from the Emgwen office, then, in 2012. I appreciate what NG-CDF did for me and for other vulnerable children who need and require education. When we walk around the constituencies that we come from, we can tell where we are courtesy of the branding that is done under NG-CDF. One can know whether they are in Emgwen, Likuyani, or Msambweni. One will know where they are courtesy of projects that have been done by NG-CDF. I am in total support of the entrenchment of the Funds in the Constitution so that they can continue giving services to people and continue being important to the people of Kenya. We are not doing this because we are Members of Parliament today. I can assure Hon. Members that in September 2027, during the swearing-in, I will not be in this House, but NG-CDF and NGAAF must be in this House so that they can serve the people of Kenya, post-me and you, Hon. Temporary Speaker who are sitting in this House. So, we are not doing this for ourselves, but we are doing it for the people of Kenya, we are doing it for the children, women, youth, and People with Disabilities (PwDs) of Kenya so, that these Funds can live beyond any Member and any person who gets an opportunity to sit in this House. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those very many remarks, I support the entrenchment of NG-CDF, NGAAF, and the Senate Oversight Fund into the Constitution of Kenya so that we can stop running battles in courts with the people who like going to court and deliver services to the people of Kenya."},{"id":1572016,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572016/?format=json","text_counter":237,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Martha Wangari","speaker_title":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker":null,"content":" Chairperson of the Committee on National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF)."},{"id":1572017,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572017/?format=json","text_counter":238,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Eldama Ravine, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Musa Sirma","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me the opportunity to give my views and support the entrenchment into the Constitution of the NG-CDF, NGAAF and the Senate Oversight Fund. First, I would like to thank Hon. Muriuki Karue, who did a good job. I was in this House at that time and before, there was nothing else people were doing in the rural areas. They were 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":1572018,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572018/?format=json","text_counter":239,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Eldama Ravine, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Musa Sirma","speaker":null,"content":"busy selling their cows and their produce to build schools. Schools were built exclusively by parents who had children in school and well-wishers. But currently, what has happened is a transformation of this country. We have lessened the burdens of the public through the provision of funds that are people-driven. The committees that have been set aside and gazetted by the Attorney-General are going to work tirelessly to make sure that the Funds are managed and what people need is given priority. These Funds are an equaliser to all. They enable the poor to take their children to school and ensure equitable development no matter what kind of government is there. The NG-CDF will equalise all the areas in the country. Everybody will feel what they pay, in terms of taxes. We also want the Fund to be entrenched in the Constitution because we have serious litigants in this country. Kenya has evolved into a very serious democratic country which has never been seen in Africa. Everybody has a right to challenge whatever is done in this House. They go to court. They are also allowed to run in the streets and say what they require. Entrenching this Fund is the right thing so that we shield it from being destroyed by litigants and others who do not wish other people well. Hon. Temporary Speaker, compare what NG-CDF does in the constituencies with what county governments do in various areas. NG-CDF builds schools. The county governments have only one responsibility in education—to build the Early Childhood Development (ECD) classes which are only two in every primary school. After the enactment of the Constitution to have the county governments, we are in the 12th year. In fact, the governors have not finished building nursery schools which are only two classes. The NG-CDF Boards and Committees in the constituencies build classes. They are almost done. So, we need to support the entrenchment of NG-CDF in the Constitution so that we support constituencies. I wish we had included Wards Development Fund in the Bill, so that we can take some money from the county governments and give it to the wards’ representatives. This would enable us to have a management system in the wards, so that we see development on the ground. Since we do not have it in the Bill this time, I hope Members can think about it so that we entrench Wards Development Fund in the Constitution. County governments are allocated Ksh400 plus in billions. Every constituency is allocated almost Ksh54 million from NG-CDF. When you compare the two, it is like day and night. That is why governors pass through courts at the end of every term to be washed before they go home. We do not know how we will protect Kenyans’ money from being misused. There are reforms which will be required after the Fund is entrenched in the Constitution. Members should think about how we shall give strict rules and regulations and the Act to the Board, so that they can manage the Fund effectively. If we entrench the three Funds in the Constitution, we need to think about what we want to make sure they are perfect and out of the litigation area. Kenyans deserve to live better lives. Their children should go to school. We should empower women and people with disabilities in this country. The only solution is NG-CDF and NGAAF. Therefore, I support that we entrench these Funds in the Constitution. Thank you."},{"id":1572019,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572019/?format=json","text_counter":240,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"The Temporary Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Hon. Martha Wangari) Member for Wajir West, Hon. Yussuf Mohamed."},{"id":1572020,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572020/?format=json","text_counter":241,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Wajir West, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Yussuf Farah","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to support the entrenchment of NG-CDF and NGAAF in the Constitution. Kenyans spoke. We did public participation everywhere in this country. Kenyans supported the Bill overwhelmingly. This clearly shows the trust they have in NG-CDF and NGAAF. 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":1572021,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1572021/?format=json","text_counter":242,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Wajir West, ODM","speaker_title":"Hon. Yussuf Farah","speaker":null,"content":"I do not want to debate with Governors who claim these specific Funds should be abolished or taken off from the records. Even if this money is taken back by the National Government today, it will not be allocated to the county governments. Why? This is because NG-CDF functions are very clear and distinct. NG-CDF and NGAAF do National Government functions, specifically education, security and energy. If these Funds are abolished, where will the Governors and county governments get money to fund the gap? If they are able to do it, they could have done it now. Education and security are not devolved functions. The people who are advocating for the removal of these Funds do not understand what the person at the grassroots level feels about it. These are people who are able to pay school fees for their children, and do other things that NG-CDF does for Kenyans. As much as we argue whether we entrench the Funds or not, we need to understand the following: 1. Are these funds meant for specific Members of Parliament? 2. Are the funds being used by Members of Parliament for their own gains? We all know these funds are used for a specific purpose by a Board. The Members of Parliament do their oversight role, which is to confirm and make sure that money is used appropriately or in the right way that is required by law. Some Kenyans believe that these funds are used by Members of Parliament which is neither here nor there. It is hot air. They know it, but they do it because they do not want these funds to go to the village level. Today, if we say that we abolish these Funds, what will happen to the people of Wajir West? What will happen to the schools from the remotest places in this country? The schools that could not get any infrastructure development funding from the national government since inception. Their only source of funding is NG-CDF. There is no school in Wajir West that was not either built, or equipped by NG-CDF. That clearly shows that this money is doing exactly what the two levels of government were supposed to do. It would be very unfair to the people of Wajir West if these Funds were removed. On behalf of the people of Wajir West, I want to say on record that these Funds should be entrenched into the Constitution. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I have seen some busybodies, I call them so, because they always run to the courts to challenge whatever is good for this country. It is unfortunate that even those who are at the corridors of justice or courts to challenge the legality of these Funds, come to Members of Parliament or go to the NG-CDF committees to request for bursaries. That includes the judges. They go to the NG-CDF committee in their constituency to request for funds and in that same place they are here ruling against the legality of these Funds. Everybody knows, whether these Funds support the people of Kenya properly or not. What we need as a House--- I can see Members of Parliament are not around today. I urge everybody to come so that we can attain two thirds. Most of the Members of Parliament should come and vote. I withdraw before---"}]}