Mombasa MCAs want ward development fund anchored in law

Mombasa members of the county assembly have called upon the national government to implement a ward development fund at the grass root level for the benefit of the public by first ensuring that it is anchored in law.

Majority leader Athman Mwamiri said as some wards have experienced development across the 47 counties, there are some which are still lagging behind in terms of development due to lack of funds.

This comes after the members of parliament at the national assembly rolled out the amendment process that will see Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) entrenched in law after it was ruled out as illegal by the Supreme Court.

“As MCAs, we support the amendment process going on at the national government to ensure that CDF is not done away with to bring the development. The MPs should also put into consideration the ward development fund."

He said that this is because the development funds that come from the county government’s kitty in most cases county projects are given the first priority leaving out projects at the ward level.

He said that having a certain percentage of money allocated and set aside for ward development, will be fair in the devolved government because its agenda is to bring development to the community.

“If the money will come and go to the governor’s office and be used at the devolution level, many wards will be affected,” he said.

“Therefore, if we have a clear strategy which involves committee, public bringing in their views and MCAs not taking the money in their pockets but acting as the patrons, there will be development in the wards and the public will be happy and feel the importance of devolution.” 

Mombasa county assembly whip Priscillah Mumba said that just like the national government is pushing for the CDF fund, they are also for a ward development fund to be included in their motion.

“If they show interest in the good corporation, we will also work with them because they need CDF which has done great things including paying bursaries to school-going children,” she said.

“It has done different projects at the ward level and it has been the backbone of MPs at the national level so that their responsibilities and work can be seen.” 

Mumba added that in many cases, MCAs have been blamed because people do not see their work.

Franklin Makanga, MCA Chaani ward criticised the statement from the controller of the budget saying that the role of the controller of the budget is only advisory but not determining issues pertaining to law.

He said that the issue of ward development funds, despite the fact that it has not been anchored in law, is their right and is in the spirit of constitutionalism.

“When we passed the constitution in 2010, it was very clear that the functions had been divided into national and county functions according to schedule 4, 32 of the constitution. Therefore we as county government and members of the county assembly, have functions that have been clearly set out by law for us to perform at the county level,” he said.

Makanga said that at the county level, the functions need funding therefore whatever they are asking for is not a favour from anybody but their right.

He said that it is within their mandate to have the rights so that they can have devolution at the grassroots level where there is the smallest unit of governance which is the ward level.

“As the MPs and senators move forward to do the amendment of the constitution, it is our appeal that they will consider our input to have the ward fund," he said.

In other counties, the ward development has been implemented, however, Mikindani ward MCA Jactone Madialo said that the few counties implementing ward development funds are out of the goodwill of the governor in that county.

“We believe that our governor is good and also has goodwill but now we want it to be anchored in law so that it does not depend on the goodwill of individuals,” he said.