MPs amend CDF bill, grant themselves more powers

By PETER OPIYO

Members of Parliament would have more control in the management of the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF).

This is after the law makers amended the CDF Bill at the Committee of the Whole House to allow MPs to sit in the Constituency Fund Development Committees as ex-officio members.

The amendment to the Bill was floated by Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and was supported by the legislators. But Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo warned against the move saying the presence of the MPs in the Committees would intimidate other Committee members.

“It is very difficult when an MP sits in these committees because their presence intimidates other committee members, so please think twice,” Kilonzo warned.

CDF Committees play a critical role in prioritising the projects to be funded by the Fund and MPs have not been members but just patrons. Having MPs as patrons was meant to minimise their influence in the management of the kitty.

Projects funded by the Constituency Development Fund would also be cautioned from any expenses arising from its administration.

Another amendment by Gumbo would see five per cent of the total allocation for a project go towards catering for the administration expenses of the project. The Project Management Committee shall set aside this sum.

The MPs also edged out the Senate from oversight of the Fund by giving a Committee of the National Assembly to check the management of the Fund. There had been a proposal to have a joint Committee, which constitutes members of the Senate and from the National Assembly to oversight the Fund. But they voted against this provision saying the function should fall within the National Assembly.

“This is a Constituency Fund and I don’t see where the Senate is coming in,” said Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba.

School children would ,however, have a reason to smile for the Bill now recognises education bursary scheme, mocks and continuous assessment tests as development projects so long as they shall not exceed 15 per cent of the total funds allocated to the kitty each financial year.

An attempt to have the Fund used to fund religious activities and religious bodies was shot down by the MPs during the verbal vote at the Committee. The amendment had been introduced by nominated MP Millie Odhiambo-Mabona.

“We are criminalising religious activities… I want to take CDF and use it to support my church, “said Ms Odhiambo Mabona.

But Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on CDF, said such a provision would undermine the purpose of the Fund.

“We’ll be undermining the purpose of CDF. The Fund is meant for poverty alleviation not for evangelisation,” said Mr Ethuro. His view was supported by Mr Gumbo.

A provision to have at least 30 per cent of the development projects funded by the kitty be reserved for the youth also failed to sail through as MPs said it was tricky to implement. The proposal was floated by Mr Gumbo.

But Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya said there is already a government circular that gives the youth ten per cent in business opportunities and it would not be necessary to legislate on the matter.

Ekwee, Migori MP, John Pesa, Mosop MP, David Koech and Education Assistant Minister Ayiecho Olweny warned that implementing the requirement would not be practicable. But Ndhiwa MP Augustino Neto said the provision was good for affirmative action.