MPs want more say in removal of CDF members

Peter Kaluma homabay south MP

NAIROBI, KENYA: Members of Parliament are pushing to have a greater say in the removal of members of Constituency Development Fund committees and also close the existing gaps in the current CDF Act.

The MPs are today expected to adopt a report of the joint sittings of the Committee on Delegated Legislation and the Committee on Constituencies Development Fund, which recommends various changes to CDF regulations 2014 published by Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru in February.

The regulations proved unpopular with members of the two committees which in April tabled a report recommending the annulment of the offending sections.

Although the new regulations had been agreed on by MPs, together with the ministry during a retreat in Naivasha and Mombasa, the ministry went ahead to publish the new regulations, which were subsequently rejected.

"The joint committee established that the Cabinet Secretary had not incorporated some fundamental proposals contained in the CDF Committee's report on the CDF Funds regulations 2014. Further, some of the regulations presented by the CS were already contained in the principal Act," the report read in part.

On the removal of CDF committee members, the team recommended that MPs be given powers to remove CDF members in consultation with the officer of the board.

Another section MPs want nullified is the one that excludes technical persons from the CDF committee, and instead recommends that they be appointed outside the CDF committees as members of the Inspections and Acceptance sub-committee "to offer technical expertise".

They also want an additional member to act as a signatory to CDF accounts.

"It is not necessary to have two members appointed through a resolution of the CDF Fund committee as signatories to CDF bank accounts," the report partly read.

Monday, the chairperson of the House committee on CDF, Moses Lessonet said the proposed amendments are designed to ensure transparency in the management of the kitty. He however says the Act does not provide a procedure for removal of a member of the CDF committee.

Homa Bay Town MP George Kaluma opposed a provision that allows Deputy County Commissioners to sit on the CDF Committees but said the Act will close existing gaps.