By Aggrey Buchunju
Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi has called for a review of the formula for allocation NG–CDF across the 290 constituencies in the country.
Speaking at Kanduyi NG-CDF offices in Bungoma town during disbursement of bursary cheques totaling Sh18 million to tertiary and university students, Wamunyinyi said the flat rate formula being used now is disadvantageous to densely populated and large constituencies.
The MP observed that it is not fair for a large and densely populated constituency like Kanduyi to be allocated the same amount with constituencies like Kabuchai, Sirisia, Webuye East and Webuye West which are inferior to his constituency in terms of size and population.
“Kanduyi has 8 wards with 87 secondary schools and almost 200 primary schools while Sirisia, Kimilili, Webuye East and Webuye West constituencies have 3 wards each and we receive equal amount of NG-CDF cash,’’ he said.
CDF was created through an Act of Parliament in 2003 by the Narc government to combat poverty and promote equitable growth and development around the country.
The Bill was sponsored by the then Ol kalou MP Eng. Muriuki Karue and implementation of the fund was guided by the CDF Act 2003 as well as regulations and circulars issued by the Ministry of Finance from time to time.
Parliament passed the CDF Amendment Act in October,2007 which introduced changes in its operations with disbursement to bursaries being raised from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of annual disbursement of a given constituency.
The Act provided that at least 2.5 percent of the ordinary revenue collected by the government is allocated to CDF.
To promote in equity in distribution the Act provided that 75 percent of the amount allocated to CDF in a single year shall be divided equally among the then 210 constituencies while the remaining 25 percent to be divided basing on population, size and poverty index.
