The country is set to have a new Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) Act by August this year.
CDF Board Chairman Mr Elias Mbau said this follows a court ruling recommending changes to the Act to conform with the Constitution.
Mr Mbau, who was speaking in Nyeri during a public participation event on the CDF kitty, said although the court had recommended amendment of four clauses in the Act, the board and the National Assembly's select committee on the fund had resolved to enact a new CDF Act, 2015.
"We have involved the public in almost all counties and they support the kitty. And to cushion the fund from future interference by busybodies who may take advantage of any loophole in the existing Act, we decided to enact a new law," said Mbau.
The former Maragua MP said the team has toured almost all counties to collect views on the kitty and the new law and they are set to tour Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties today. "We already have the support of MPs and we have also realised that a good number of Kenyans support retention of the fund," said Mbau.
According to the board's timetable, the draft bill will be ready by next week, after which it will be published and gazetted by mid July.
"We will then take it to Parliament for adoption and MPs have pledged they will expedite it such that by the end of August, we will have a new CDF Act," said Mbau.
public support
Ruiru MP Esther Gathogo, who is the vice chairperson of the select committee, reiterated the need for the public to manage the kitty as county governments already have several funds they are running.
"We are not telling the public that they must support CDF. We want to hear their views and then we will take the necessary action," said Gathogo.
Yesterday's public forum in Nyeri drew participants from constituencies in Nyeri, Murang'a and Nyandarua counties.
Mr Michael Wambugu from Othaya constituency said placing the fund under county governments may lead to neglect of some areas as some Kenyans are still not aware how the devolved system works.
"In some areas, residents have not benefited from any project initiated by the county governments," said Wambugu.
