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Kenya: New CDF Board Members Approved
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
25 April 2008
Posted to the web 24 April 2008
Nairobi
A board to oversee the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has been established, giving hope that thousands of stalled projects will be completed.
It will replace the National Management Committee.
About Sh7.6 billion of the Sh10.1 billion kitty has been held at the Treasury since last November pending the formation of the CDF Board.
Parliament approved the 17-member team that is mandated to endorse funding of Constituency Development Committees (CDCs), a legal requirement after the amendment of the CDF Act last year.
Treasury has delayed disbursing the funds until the new law is followed. By the time of enacting the legislation, only Sh2.5 billion had been sent to the constituencies.
Thirty constituencies received Sh600 million and 130 Sh1.5 billion.
Another factor that delayed disbursement was the constitution of CDCs. About 190 of the 210 constituencies have adhered to the requirement.
Members praised the CDF initiative through which Sh24.2 billion has been given to constituencies since its inception in 2003.
They said the policy had led to remarkable development at the grassroots. The fund is 2.5 per cent of ordinary Government revenues.
MPs asked the Government to increase the percentage from 2.5 to 10 per cent to hasten development programmes.
Auditing of projects, they said, had been a challenge and wanted the Government to boost measures that would ensure accountability.
Energy minister, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, who seconded the motion, called for impartiality in the board, saying MPs should bear the responsibility of developing their constituencies.
"We should be left to decide how the CDF will impact on our constituents," said Murungi.
But Planning minister, Mr Wycliffe Oparanya, differed with his colleague, and said the board would approve projects the MPs proposed.
He, however, said ministers should have the authority to check how the funds were spent.
Oparanya deplored under-utilisation of completed projects because the Government was reluctant to equip them.
He called for clear job definition of account managers, saying about Sh3 billion was lying idle in the accounts.
Mr Eugene Wamalwa (Saboti, PNU)) shared the minister's sentiments that further amendments should be made to the Act to strengthen legal structures and controls.
Defence Assistant minister, Mr Joseph Nkaissery, and his Public Service counterpart, Mr Aden Sugow, called for allocation of more bursary funds to marginalised districts.
Nkaissery, Sugow and Dr Eseli Simiyu (Kimilili, Ford-K) said allowances of CDC members be doubled from Sh2,500 to Sh5,000.
Members also raised concern over the transition, saying it was not well thought out in the Act. Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalang'i, ODM) and Mr Abdul Bahari (Isiolo South) complained of red tape in transactions presided over by District Development Officers.
Mr Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K) and Assistant minister, Mr Kabando wa Kabando, praised the composition of the board, saying it took gender and youth into account.
Kabando, however, complained of its size, saying globally, company boards should have 11 members for effective discharge of duties.
Mr Chris Okemo (Nambale, ODM) took issue with the board, saying it did not include the disabled. He said project auditing should be a formality and left to wananchi who knew what projects had been completed.
The board members approved are Mr Joel Wanyoike (Institute of Engineers of Kenya), Ms Jennifer Barasa (Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mr Lawrence Majali (Knut), Bishop Martin Kivuva (Kenya Episcopal Conference) and Ms Maryam Sheikh Abdikadir (Supreme Council of Muslims).
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Others were Ms Rebecca Koskei (National Council of Churches of Kenya), Mr Benson Okundi (Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya), Ms Janet Mang'era (Kenya Episcopal Conference), Dr John Wamakonjio, Mr Simon Chelugui, Mr Omar Jibril Mohamed and Mr James Ogundo.
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