Otiende who is one of the sponsors of the constitutional amendment bill said that entrenchment of the NG-CDF into the constitution is a recommendation of the NADCO report which the former Prime Minister had preferred to be implemented as it was.
“The NADCO co-chaired by Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichungwa had recommended that NG-CDF be entrenched into the constitution.” Otiende said.
The former premier recently called for abolition of the NG-CDF kitty proposing that the funds be directed to the counties to support devolution.
Speaking at a function in Siaya County, Raila said that MPs have no business undertaking development which is the mandate of county governments asking them to instead focus on legislation, oversight and representation.
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Dr. Otiende however said parliament will move to expunge the word “Development” from the National Government Constituency Development Fund so that it will only be known as the National Government Constituency Fund (NG-CF) so that MPs do not engage in development.
“We are going to change the name from NG-CDF to NG-CF so that we are not involved in development but I want to assure my people that I will represent them well so that they have better schools, they have bursaries for school fees including having adequate security officers with amenities ” Otiende said.
The legislature observed that the abolition of the NG-CDF will not in any way benefit the counties because the kitty draws its funding from the 85% which is normally left after the counties receives 15% of the national cake.
“We are entrenching this because we are restricting it to the share of national government (85%). Normally counties receive 15% but NADCO had recommended 35% share out, however, before we reach there we cannot let the whole 85% remain in Nairobi, we have to bring it down here to aid our people.” Otiende said
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He observed that although counties need more money they cannot benefit from the dissolution of NG-CDF as they do not have constitutional mandate to support development and growth of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions including universities therefore they would never receive money for those purposes even if NGCFD was abolished.
The Rarieda MP called upon Kenyans to feel free to share the opinion on the bill by supporting the entrenchment or opposing its entrenchment into the constitution.
He said that previously the NGCDF has been challenged as unconstitutional by some people but its entrenchment seeks to solve the dilemma so that it can only be challenged in other parameters but not its constitutionality.
During the event, the NGCDF kitty disbursed 11.5 million for bursaries to students in tertiary institution and university, a further Ksh 1.2 million from Uwezo fund to 22 development groups in Rarieda constituency
By Erick Nyayiera
