Oparanya tells MPs to carry CDF cross

By Joel Okwayo

Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya has told MPs from areas cited in the recently released report for misuse of the Constituency Development Fund to carry their own cross.

The minister said the report by the National Taxpayers Association (NTA) was factual, and that it was an indication the public and other development partners were monitoring usage of devolved funds.

Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli and his Kanduyi counterpart Alfred Khang’ati dismissed the report and threatened to sue NTA. But Oparanya said MPs complaining were insincere.

Financial mismanagement

"We have other audited reports by the Office of Auditor General and that of the National Constituency Development Board, which also cite financial mismanagement," he said.

Oparanya said the Government is set to disburse the last tranche of Sh4 billion meant for development projects in constituencies.

The Treasury had withheld the money after a section of MPs from Nyanza Province went to court in protest after the region was clustered among the well to do areas.

The MPs claimed ranking Nyanza constituencies as among areas with low poverty levels denied them access to huge amounts of the CDF.

The funds are disbursed based on poverty index and population of areas.