Census changes flow of Sh14b CDF money

A new report gives a thump- up on use of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Eastern province . PHOTO / FILE

What you need to know:

  • Fresh information from just-concluded count to be used as Oparanya says: Sums are different

Information from the just-released census will be used in sharing out Sh14 billion under the Constituency Development Fund.

That means the money given to each constituency will be different from previous years because the sharing will be based on different parameters, according to Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 minister Wycliffe Oparanya.

Disbursement is expected as soon as Parliament resumes. MPs took a break on September 2 and are expected back on September 12.

“We shall be disbursing the funds very soon once Parliament resumes; not so that they can amend the budget we have already come up with, but as a formality since the law requires the minister in charge to do so,” said Oparanya after he met Butere Muslim community at Buchenya primary school on Sunday.

The population of a constituency and the level of poverty, based on the 2005-2006 poverty index, will determine how much the constituency will get.

“The poorer you are, the more money you get,” said Mr Oparanya.

Questions have been raised about the integrity of some of the data in the census, after some provinces reported a 140 per cent increase in their populations over a decade.

North Eastern, for example, showed surprising growth in the number of individuals, but not households. It’s population characteristics are consistent with high levels of migration, raising suspicions that foreigners from Somalia were counted during the census.

“We already have had provisional distribution based on the most current population figures because it would be unwise to rely on the old figures when we have the latest data,” he said.

Population and poverty levels will be used to share resources fairly, with the lion’s share going to constituencies which have large, poor populations.

Constituencies whose results were cancelled will not be left out of the CDF bonanza. Money will be given to those areas on the basis of the poverty index.

Mr Oparanya nullified the census results for Turkana Central, North and South, Lagdera, Wajir East, Mandera East, Central and West.

On Sunday, he sought to assure wananchi in the affected areas that they would not lose out in the allocation or review of electoral boundaries. But he reiterated that the census would be repeated in the affected areas to come up with an accurate population figure.

According to him, there will be a major variation in this year’s allocation compared to the past year’s because the rules of allocation have changed.