Poor regions get biggest slice of Sh31b CDF cash

The big winners in this year's Sh31.3 billion Constituency Development Fund allocations are constituencies in the poorest regions of North Eastern and Coast with the least beneficiaries mostly from Nairobi County.

Those that got the lion's share of the allocation are Mandera South ( Sh182.9 million), Turkana West (Sh169.8 million), Kinango (Sh160.7 million), Magarini (Sh149.million), which have the highest levels of poverty  in the country.

This is according to a formula that gives the highest allocation to the poorest constituencies in order to lift them up from the many years of economic doldrums.

Those that received the lowest allocations are Lamu East (Sh85.2 million) and Embakasi East (Sh88.5 million). Each of the 290 constituencies received an equal figure of Sh838 million to rehabilitate schools in their areas, giving MPs more clout in boosting education infrastructure.

Other top ten beneficiaries in this year’s allocations include Makueni (Sh143.3 million), Banissa (Sh143.2 million), Lafey (Sh141 million), Lungalunga (Sh137.6 millions), Ganze (Sh133.1 million) and Kilifi North Sh132.7 million, all of which are in the arid and semi-arid parts of the country.

Among the bottom ten constituencies in terms of allocations are Embakasi West (Sh86.5 million), Makadara (Sh87.4 million), Embakasi Central (Sh87.5 million), Embakasi East (Sh88.5 million), Starehe (Sh88.8 million), Kisumu Central (Sh89.6 million), Nakuru Town West ( ShSh89.7 million), Kamukunji (Sh89.8 million) and Langata Sh89.7.These areas mostly represent urban sectors of the country with relatively lower levels of poverty.

A total of 208 constituencies will be having more than Sh100 million at their disposal for development projects while 82 will have less than that amount. Last year, only 18 constituencies received more than Sh100 million indicating that more MPs have higher allocation for development.

MPs have been pushing for all constituencies to receive more than Sh100 million to increase their impact on development in their constituencies but this has not been achieved.

The allocations were tabled yesterday on the floor of the National Assembly by Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on the CDF, Mr Moses Lessonet, who is also the MP for Eldama Ravine Constituency.

 SCHOOLS FUNDS

In last year’s allocation, Kinango received the highest figure (Sh170.9 million), while Lamu East maintained its position as the least beneficiary after getting Sh5 million.

A total of Sh32.9 billion has been allocated for CDF for 2014/2015 Financial Year, with an additional Sh243 million set a side to rehabilitate schools  and is divided equally among the constituencies.  The CDF Board Secretariat will consume Sh1.6 billion in administrative costs.

Among the factors considered to determine this year’s distribution of the CDF cash included population size, poverty index, and urban/rural weight-factor.

Mandera  South which received the highest allocation also had the highest estimated number of poor people at 247,625  while Lamu East which received the lowest allocation was also calculated to have the lowest number of poor people at 18,841.

Each constituency received an equal allocation of Sh76.9 million, representing three-quarters of the CDF allocation of ShSh22.3 billion.

They also received different allocation as pro-poor share with Mandera South receiving the highest allocation of Sh99.7 million while Lamu East received the least at Sh2 million.

The allocations are in line with Article 217 of the Constitution which requires that money be allocated on the basis of equitable distribution of resources.

This year’s CDF share is Sh10 billion more than last year after MPs successfully pushed for more money to go to their constituencies to increase their involvement in development on the  ground.

They had initially demanded Sh35 billion including Sh2 billion to be controlled by Women Representatives, but this was shelved after negotiations with Treasury officials.

Many Kenyans are hoping that the money allocated will be used efficiently and expeditiously to boost their economic fortunes on the ground. There has been concern that a good part of the money is lost through corruption and wastage, thereby undermining its impact.

CDF represents 2.5 per cent of the government’s ordinary revenue with 95 per cent of the total allocation being sent directly to constituencies while not more than 5 per cent being retained by the CDF for administrative activities.