Members of parliament have rejected former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s call for reassessment of the role of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) within the framework of devolution.
A section of MPs now say Raila’s demand would deny millions of children opportunities to access education in the country.
Led by Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Ombane Gisairo, the lawmakers stated that the fund has played a central role in building classrooms, funding bursaries, and improving learning facilities across the country.
They noted that Raila is being misadvised, and the funds that NG-CDF had already proven its worth in transforming lives in the constituencies.
During his speech on Monday at the Parliamentary Group meeting for the ODM and Kenya Kwanza Alliance lawmakers. Raila reencountered hostility after he reiterated his calls for the scrapping of the NG-CDF.
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Raila stated that Members of the National Assembly should strictly focus on their core mandate of legislation, oversight, and representation. They should not participate in development projects that fall under the county governments.
“Devolution remains at the county and the constituency, the county government does implementation of projects, but the national governments are supposed to implement national programmes,” Raila said. The sentiments did not go over well with some lawmakers who had attended the meeting; they had to murmur in disapproval.
“I know the truth hurts. MPs should not be involved in development; they are supposed to be overseeing it. If you are involved in the construction of schools and roads, who will oversee you? Your Excellency, these MPs should have nothing to do with development, which should be left to counties,” Raila stated.
Odinga had proposed that county governments should handle bursary distribution and other forms of community support to ensure equitable and transparent service delivery.
By Obegi Malack
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