Kithure Kindiki to appeal ruling on Constituency Development Fund

In a show of solidarity, Members of Parliament have said they will appeal the High Court ruling that declared the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) unconstitutional.

The MPs said the ruling was meant to fight and derail development in the country.

Speaking over the weekend, Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki termed anyone fighting the fund an enemy of development at the grassroots.

Prof Kindiki faulted the grounds relied on to declare the kitty illegal.

"The arguments relied on by the court to declare this fund unconstitutional are shallow and based on a mechanical reading of the law. We disagree and will support our colleagues' (National Assembly) decision to appeal the matter immediately," he said.

"We will mobilise our political resources to ensure CDF is reinstated and MPs continue to patronise it," he added.

The Tharaka Nithi senator added that even senators should patronise counties to monitor how funds were used and not wait for reports from the Controller of Budget (CoB) and Auditor General's offices.

Kajiado Woman Representative Mary Seneta said most remote parts of the country had been developed courtesy of CDF.

Ms Seneta said Parliament would look at the CDF law and amend any unconstitutional issues to allow the kitty to operate.

"CDF is not against devolution. Doing away with it is returning us to where we were with dilapidated classrooms, and lack of medical facilities and water in remote areas," she added.

Everlasting mark

Gichugu MP Njogu Barua told his constituents not to worry about the court's ruling, saying legislators had already appealed against it.

Mr Barua said scrapping the fund would adversely affect devolution since people had adapted to the system that brought them quick development.

Speaking at Kianyaga Stadium on Saturday, Barua criticised those who went to court to have the kitty abolished, saying they did not have the interests of Kenyans at heart.

"Wherever you go in this country, there is an everlasting CDF mark. I wonder whether some people have eyes or what moved them to go to court," he said.