Why legislators must step back from managing NG-CDF kitty

It is a fundamental tenet of constitutional democracy that the powers of governance-legislative, executive, and judicial-must remain distinct. This principle, enshrined in the Constitution, is not a matter of theory or convenience; it is the backbone of accountable government. Yet, this principle continues to be violated, most glaringly in the management of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).

At its core, the NG-CDF is an executive function. It involves the disbursement, allocation, and expenditure of public funds on development projects such as classrooms, health centres, and water points. These are quintessential executive tasks-functions that fall squarely within the mandate of the national and county governments. The Constitution assigns Parliament the responsibility to legislate, represent, and, crucially, to oversee the executive's implementation of public policy and use of public resources. This is what makes the involvement of Members of Parliament (MPs) in the management of NG-CDF both unconstitutional and dangerous.