Women Reps Urge Government to Increase NGAAF allocation

Teso

Monday September4, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

A section of women representatives has urged the government to increase National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) to enable them reach out to more specialized groups in the society.

Speaking at Kolanya primary school in Teso North, Kwale Woman Rep Ms. Fatuma Masito and Busia counterpart Catherine Omanyo noted that it is baffling how the NG-CDF kitty only allocated Sh.33 million to Woman Reps, while the same kitty allocates sh.137 million to a National Assembly legislator.

“It is a very tiny budget for a Woman Rep given that they cater for the entire county and even though the Constitution provides that our seats cater for special interest groups, you find that the entire county electorate, special or not, actually believes that you were elected to do something for all of them. And that is the expanded role of the Woman Rep,” noted Fatuma.

According to Fatuma, Sh.33 million kitty is not enough for the elected leaders to carry out administrative functions while empowering youth, women and PWDs to venture into entrepreneurship in their respective constituencies.

Her sentiments were echoed by Ms Omanyo who said second chance bursary and funds for specialized groups need to be relooked into as their office is overwhelmed in some areas with high population.

“The affirmative action fund doesn’t match the number of people we encounter in our counties. Busia for instance has 7 constituencies and the number of specialized PWDs keeps growing, said Omanyo.

Omanyo spoke on her second day of padding the girl's drive (distributing pads to school girls) across the county.

The legislator distributed over 10 wheelchairs across the county, under Catherine Omanyo Foundation in partnership with Scoon Kenya. Omanyo noted that PWDs have great potential if their talents can be recognized early in their lives.

She added that it was regrettable that parents still keep such children away for fear and stigma over the situation.

“Disability is not about incapability, but about the doors that were shut for a long time. You should not let your disability stop you from achieving your goals. Just knock on the right doors,” she advised.

The government fulfilled the earlier promise of increasing NGAAF from Sh1 billion to Sh3 billion in the financial year 2023-2024 budget and the women are also hopeful that NGAAF will also be increased soon.

Courtesy ; K. N. A