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In their proposal, MCAs want a certain percentage of their respective county’s annual budget estimates to be channeled to the proposed fund.
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Commission on Revenue Allocation said the proposal should advice on how to arrive at the percentage.
Image: FILE
President William Ruto's move to anchor into law specialised kitties for lawmakers has opened a Pandora's box with MCAs now demanding for their share of the cake.
The MCAs, through the County Assemblies Forum, have petitioned the ad hoc committee handling the law change proposal for inclusion of Ward Development Fund.
The CAF is the coordinating agency of the 47 county assemblies in Kenya.
The lawmakers have been burning the midnight oil to entrench into law the National Government Constituencies Development Fund, National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Senate Oversight Fund and the Economic Stimulus and Empowerment Fund as was suggested by Ruto in a special memo to Parliament.
The nine-page memo also sought to strengthen MPs' oversight mandate by pushing for amendments to the standing orders to allow Cabinet secretaries respond to members questions directly on the floor as well as creation of the office of opposition leader.
On Tuesday, CAF chairperson Philemon Sabulei presented a memorandum to incorporate the WDF to promote the decentralisation of development within the counties by identifying projects that are beneficial to the residents.
In supporting their push, Sabulei said there was need to formalise the fund in law to avoid the current situation where there exist similar funds that are only operational on the whims of the governor.
“The forum proposes that the County Wards Equitable Development Fund be incorporated in the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill before the National Assembly by the Hon Stephen Mule and Gichimu Githinji alongside other proposed funds,” he said.
“Kindly, note that this memorandum represents the voices of all the 2217 Members of the County Assemblies and the 47 Assemblies.”
He was accompanied by CAF secretary-general Chege Mwaura and CEO Judy Oduma.
The memo was served to the Parliamentary Joint Ad Hoc Committee on a legislative proposal to amend the constitution to entrench certain specialised funds co-chaired by Boment Senator Wakili Hillary Sigei and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkong'a.
In their proposal, MCAs want a certain percentage of their respective county’s annual budget estimates to be channeled to the proposed fund.
Commission on Revenue Allocation said the proposal should advice on how to arrive at the percentage.
“That all monies to the County Wards Equitable Development Fund shall be considered as funds allocated to the Wards pursuant to Article 206 (2) (c) to be administered in accordance with the provisions of an Act of Parliament,” the document said.
“That Parliament shall enact a legislation to provide for the administration of the County Wards Equitable Development Fund.”
Currently, the fund is operational in 34 counties based purely on a gentleman’s agreement between the county executive and the assembly.
Lack of legal structure to operationalise the fund, CAF said, has seen several incomplete and stalled projects due to the poor planning of ward development projects.
To cure the systematic problems, CAF insists on having the standardised fund framework at the national level.
(edited by Amol Awuor)