Kenya: A recent declaration that the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is unconstitutional may have a negative impact on education in the larger Western region.
The ruling was made by Justice David Majanja who said the Constituency Development Fund Act undermined the spirit of devolution and the Principle of Separation of Powers, and gave the Government one year to amend the Act.
If National Assembly members fail to heed this warning to align the Act with the Constitution, it could spell the end of school for at least 39,000 students who rely on CDF to pay their school fees.
Development projects would also be affected across the 33 constituencies in Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Busia counties.
The Standard was able to establish that an average 1,200 students in every constituency depend on CDF bursaries to see them through secondary school, college and university.
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Most of these secondary school students are allocated bursaries ranging from Sh8,000 to Sh15,000 while those in post-secondary school institutions get bursaries ranging from Sh10,000 to Sh200,000.
Speaking to The Standard, Mt Elgon MP John Serut said the education of over 2,000 students in Mt Elgon alone would be greatly affected should CDF be scrapped.
CAST IN STONE?
The MP said before the establishment of CDF, development and education were dwindling but had since been boosted thanks to the Sh30 million kitty.
“Mt Elgon was for a long time marginalised but the CDF has been reversing this and improving education standards. The money has been used to purchase over 10 school buses and build classrooms for 87 per cent of schools while some 20 health facilities have been put up,” he said.
Mr Serut said the money also benefited over 250 first-year students who joined colleges and universities in September last year.
“The Constitution is not cast in stone. It is the creation of the people of Kenya and should meet their hopes and aspirations. Services must be taken closer to the people and we will fight to retain this.”
“Regions like Mt Elgon have been marginalised and it is only through CDF that we can realise development in the region,” said the legislator.
In Navakholo, Kakamega, students who qualified to join national schools received Sh10,000 each as part of tuition fees from the fund.
Area MP Emmanuel Wangwe said the CDF committee allocated Sh11 million for bursaries to cater for bright but needy students across the constituency.
“I do not want to see any pupils staying at home due to lack of tuition or activity fees. As legislators, we will look at the Act and ensure it is aligned with the law,” he said.
Butere MP Andrew Toboso said Sh15 million of the CDF had been allocated to bursary funds, with more than 600 students benefiting from this allocation.
best students
In Lurambi, a similar amount has been allocated to cater for more than 2,500 students and also finance the purchase of inter sub-county exam papers, and award the best performing students and schools.
Lugari constituency had set aside Sh12 million for bursaries, with area MP Ayub Savula saying the money was also used to upgrade schools and renovate infrastructure.
Some 1,300 students in Teso North are set to benefit from a Sh20 million bursary allocation, with MP Arthur Odera saying the amount will also be used to build classes, laboratories, toilets, a library and water projects.
Kanduyi has set aside Sh10 million in bursaries for over 6,000 students.
