#PERSPECTIVE
THE FLIP-SIDE OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND
Corruptions, clannism,
self-egocentric intertwined with political dimension derails the realization of
development at the Constituency level
When the Ninth of parliament was enacted one of the biggest achievement
was passing the Constituency Development Act in 2003 under the opera mundus of
the kibaki administration after then president won the election in landslide
victory taking over from the long reign of KANU regime, almost two decades of
Moi’s leadership – the NARC coalition the kibaki TOSHA. Raila was among the architectures.
The legislation of the constituency development fund was
meant to correct imbalances in regional development that for years marginalized
many areas in the country, an initiative that give hope to the laymen to partake
in development in the grassroots, this was a channel that enhanced a very
robust change in many regions – This also give the citizen who dearly for long
were controlled by government bureaucracy to give their way of utilization when
it comes on initiating projects – It allowed the allocations of two percent to
all constituency ,it was pernicious godsend.
This fund whose main projection was to lift up the lives of
the citizen in various sectors, from education, health, roads, water and other
social amenities for at least to empower the electorates.
With all its policy enshrined in this Act for not allowing
the politicians to misuse the funds that never stopped our leaders to invade
this developmental fund. Misappropriations were hugely reported in many regions
in the Nation, the leaders breached the accorded laws to either benefit themselves
or their kinsmen and women and also their political Sherlock’s through giving tenders,
contracts or even wetting their concubines. On the implementation of the
objectivity of the funds the people in the constituency were left out leaving
on the edge of the begging bowl, they were never let to add inputs what
projects they need especially consultations. Many lives at the grassroots were
left in limbo. The leaders were too clever because politicians are always crooked,
with the laid regulations that was kicked out of the equation leaving a chance
the areas members of parliament to hand in this kitty of the constituency development
that fund or money being a hope for the people in the area who live a less a
dollar a day the money(CDF) opened a plethora of loopholes for crafty individuals
to steal, divert the funds from the needful people of the constituency.
Many projects of the constituency were crafted in manner
which is beyond unthinkable most of the area MPs root in their own agenda rather
than the common wananchi ‘s request, the people of the constituency were
blindfolded with lies, lies that their children are given bursaries with huge
chunk of money swapped into self-making projects in the name of an individual maybe
whom is either close relatives or family. The dreams of the common were hijacked
by the greedy politicians -too unfortunate this funds meant to ease the hardship
and uplift the lives, reduce poverty among the voters were unfortunately left in
a dark ray of hopelessness. Since the inception the Constituency Development
Fund little has been achieved in the rural areas – this fund become a tool of
politicking and a blanket of marginalization some of the areas the lives of
common wananchi calls a lot nothing has been realized in terms of the core aim
of the fund constituency – majority projects are white-elephant projects.
From education, schools with no facilities, dispensaries
with no drugs, no personnel, no connectivity of rural electrification, no clean
water, poor network, - the shackles of poverty increasing almost the live of
the voters at laughing stock stage. Area MPs never give full execution of the
meant objective of the funds. Some use as gaining platform politically either
to sanction or favour some of the people in the constituency because they are
maybe not or from his tribe, clan or loyal to him- with moribund briefcase
onlookers around him/her – the CDF committees and entire management constituency
development fund who are tight lipped with kickbacks not to outrage against the
agenda of the area MP’s plans.
The CDF which no iota of doubt can bring development or best
initiative our parliament enacted the rogue politician are the ones who bluntly
skewed this noble agenda of transforming the live of the common Kenyans.
Let me give a details example of Wajir West for the last five
years with one hundred and thirty million each year multiple one term of an MP
that is six hundred and fifty million shillings with additional of rural, emergency
funds total of closely one billion – cross examine the lives of the people for
today that is too painful. Wajir West constituency lags behind despite its platonic
volatile politics since 1953 - A constituency that for years is associated with
making politics of the County. It’s now or never, the area MP to bring back the
rays of hope to this constituency.
If the all stereotype, discrepancy is put aside this initiative
can positively empower the common citizen who years in years out yarn for change,
development – undoubtedly if this
fund is managed within the core value of all protocols change will be
inevitable across the two hundred and ninety constituency.
For the sake of the hope bestowed within the hearts of the Kenyans
our politicians should put at bay the subject matter of the interest, they must
fulfil the pledges they took or promised – it’s time for them to walk the walk
but not the walk of the talk. utilization of the CDF funds makes a bright
future with County Government also playing their role in transforming the
region at the County level this will nudge up the lives of millions. Also the Committee
structure must also be fully to abide the laws if they see a loophole within
they must be a quick to respond – there are part of the journey in ensuring the
funds bring change to the common taxpayer who day in or day out ready to work
painstakingly in ensuring also he/she pays the tax for services to be facilitated
they should not be like the acting no business truly you set a cat to catch a
rat not to set a rat to catch a rat they must also be part of the change. Also
the common wananchi be upright in fighting for their rights in accordance with
law as we know the sovereignty – chapter one the law. with for God we seek a
good guidance.
~END~
TWITTER: @WaWajir
I.G: Mohaafunky
Comments
Post a Comment