Lobby wants CDF taken away from MPs

BY LABAN WANAMBISI

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null 1/1 NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 20 - A report by a local governance lobby group has proposed that the Constituencies Development Fund be scrapped under the new Constitution and instead be administered from the County level. The report sampling five counties conducted by The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) says that CDF roles like building of health centres should be taken over by county governments. Consequently, TISA national coordinator Wanjiru Gikonyo said that role of MPs will then be limited to making laws. "The report called for the scrapping of the Constituency Development Fund and dissolution of the CDF Board, through the consolidation of the 2.5 percent of national budget presently set aside for CDF into the soon to be created County development structure," she said. Speaking at a stakeholders' workshop which debated on the future of CDF, she faulted the funds' current structure that allows Members of Parliament near-absolute control of the funds with little accountability mechanisms; which she argued should be enhanced. "Heightened citizen vigilance before 2012 was stressed, noting that transition times and especially build up to the next election makes the fund especially vulnerable to corruption," Ms Gikonyo said. Muriuki Karue who is a former MP for Ol Kalou and the principal architect of the CDF cautioned that the fund risked being locked out of the new structures of governance if the Government does not move with speed to amend the law establishing it. "The 15 percent going to the counties is yet to be defined as to precisely what it comprises. Bearing in mind that CDF is specific to only one of our many problems (community infrastructure), it is doubtful that any of the provisions in the new Constitution can easily replace it," he said. The CDF was introduced in 2003 through an Act of Parliament which provides that the government set aside at least 2.5 percent of its ordinary revenue for disbursement under the CDF programme. Mr Karue said CDF should be accommodated within the devolved structure of government as opposed to scrapping it entirely. He also differed with those calling for the scrapping of the fund on the premise that having it alongside county governments would be tantamount to duplication of functions. "It has also fulfilled its mandate fairly well, notwithstanding the flaws identified so far, and as such we should continue on the beaten path as we explore the new territories," he said. Kenya National Human Rights Commissioner Hassan Omar, on the other hand, said that there needs to be an improvement primarily with the aspects of citizen participation and accountability. Mr Omar believes that halting of all CDF-funded projects at least four months before an election would curb incumbent MPs from using the projects to bolster their campaign credentials. A section of MPs have been pushing for additional allocation of 2.5 percent of the national budget - on top of the 15 percent direct allocation - to be disbursed to the 47 counties to fund CDF projects, which have gobbled up a total of Sh70 billion since inception. According to the Budget Policy Statement tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, the Treasury proposes a final direct allocation of Sh17.2 billion to the CDF kitty, Sh15 billion to Local Authority Transfer Fund and Sh2.7 billion to Road Maintenance Levy Fund. Follow us on TWITTER @CapitalFM_Kenya

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