MPs plead for Sh11 billion to finish projects
MPs want the Treasury to release Sh11 billion to their constituencies for completion of pending CDF projects, with just 24 days remaining to the expiry of their term.
The lawmakers are concerned that if the money is not released now, and some of them lose their seats in the March elections, then their successors would ignore the unfinished projects.
The MPs said they had asked for the money to be disbursed by September to allow sufficient time to conclude the projects.
The Treasury, they said, ignored the request because by law it is supposed to release half the money, mid the financial year.
Fulfilled law
However, the Finance minister rejected the calls to disburse the money.
He said that as per the law, he had already met the quota for half the amount by the time the financial year was half-way.
“If you follow the law, we have disbursed all the required CDF Funds as at December 31, 2012. We have fulfilled the law, and I have the facts,” said Mr Githae.
The chairman of the House Committee on CDF, Mr Ekwee Ethuro, said if the money was not disbursed now, it may remain unused given that the remaining half of the financial year — from January 1 to June 30, 2013 — will be spent on political activities to do with elections, and settling in the new MPs.
“The CDF allocation for the current financial year is Sh21.7 billion. As per now, unless he sneaked something this morning, he had only released Sh10 billion. That is less than 50 per cent.
“He owes us a small favour .... in the remaining period, we want our money so that we complete the remaining projects. This House agreed that by September 30, the money should have been disbursed,” Mr Ethuro said in Parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) asked Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim to force Finance minister Njeru Githae to disburse the money. “I request you to prevail upon the good minister to ensure the money is disbursed. In all fairness to this nation, the Treasury is not a personal property of anybody. Our people depend on this funding,” said Mr Midiwo.
Dr Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani) complained that though half the money had been disbursed, his constituency had only received 15 per cent of the amount due to them in the current financial year.
He said that with change in government after the elections, the projects might never see the light of day.
“There’s a very big risk that some projects will stall, because of lack of goodwill from the person who will succeed the MPs,” said Dr Khalwale, who wants to be the senator of Kakamega County.
Some CDF projects have been plagued by claims of mismanagement and corruption. However, the devolved funds have been used in some instances to boost the livelihood of constituents through education bursaries, social amenities, among others.
