Marginalised communities could receive greater attention in the allocation of Equalisation Fund resources as the government pushes for more investment in basic infrastructure and services in areas that have for years faced development challenges.
The latest discussions were held on Thursday when Principal Secretary for East African Community Affairs and acting PS for ASALs and Regional Development Caroline Karugu met Equalisation Fund Advisory Board chairman Ambassador Mahboub Maalim for consultations on the fund's role in improving living conditions in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) and other marginalised parts of the country.
The talks examined how resources from the fund can be directed to communities where access to essential infrastructure and public services remains limited.
According to the State Department for East African Community Affairs, ASALs and Regional Development, the meeting brought together three key areas of development — financing for infrastructure, socio-economic integration and the advancement of human capital and human rights.
“The visit bridged three vital spheres of development,” the State Department said in a statement.
The Equalisation Fund was created under the Constitution as an affirmative action measure to help marginalised communities gain access to basic services and narrow the gap between them and other parts of the country.
Among the services covered by the fund are water, roads, healthcare and electricity. The government says directing resources to these areas can help improve service delivery in communities that have historically remained underserved.
Water projects, feeder roads, community health facilities and both grid and off-grid power connections were identified as key areas where investment could have a direct impact on local communities.
The State Department said better roads would make it easier for farming and pastoralist communities in remote areas to reach markets. Improved transport links could also lower the cost of moving goods and help reduce losses after harvest.
Access to dependable water and power was also linked to the growth of local economies. The department said such services can support trading centres, small businesses, value addition and access to digital services.
The government also sees infrastructure development as a way of bringing marginalised communities closer to the wider economy.
With improved basic services, communities can take part more fully in economic activities and gain better links to national markets and supply chains, according to the State Department.
The consultations also focused on the connection between public services and rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
Article 43 sets out economic and social rights, including access to adequate housing and reasonable sanitation, freedom from hunger and adequate food, clean and safe water in sufficient quantities, social security and education.
The State Department said extending these services to underserved communities could improve outcomes in both health and education.
It cited better maternal and child health, fewer cases linked to unsafe water and improved school attendance and retention as some of the expected benefits.
Improved water access could particularly ease the burden on girls who often spend long periods fetching water, giving them more time to remain in school.
The government said the wider objective of the Equalisation Fund remains reducing disparities by directing investment to communities where access to basic services and infrastructure falls below national standards.