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Charles Keter. FILE

Kenya

Belgut tops in CDF use as others waste millions

Outgoing MPs Charles Keter (Belgut) and Charles Onyancha (Kitutu Chache) urged the EACC to investigate the findings of the report and ensure that those misusing funds were prosecuted/FILE

Outgoing MPs Charles Keter (Belgut) and Charles Onyancha (Kitutu Chache) urged the EACC to investigate the findings of the report and ensure that those misusing funds were prosecuted/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 – The National Taxpayers Association (NTA) now claims that Sh242 million out of the Sh1.8 billion allocated to Constituency Development Funds (CDF) was lost in the year 2010/2011.

NTA acting National Coordinator Martin Napisa said the money was misused or wasted as poorly done projects chalked up Sh179.1 million of the lost funds.

The audit listed Khwisero, Isiolo North, Rongo, Ikolomani and Hamisi constituencies as the bottom five constituencies from a list of 28, with Napisa adding that they were largely to blame for the lost funds.

The report particularly alleged that Khwisero constituency wasted Sh58.9 million of the Sh72.5 million allocated in the said financial year.

“While some constituencies are using the money very well, the worst constituencies are misusing the money a lot. You find as high as 40 percent of the money has been wasted,” he noted.

Belgut, Runyenjes, Galole, Magarini and Wajir West were at the same time listed as the best performers.

Napisa cited an example in Isiolo South constituency where a classroom construction project received Sh600,000 but only managed to put up a foundation.

According to the report a borehole had also been constructed in Isiolo South at a cost of Sh1m, but could not work because it lacked a pump.

“There was supposed to be a pump but there isn’t one yet money was spent. To make it worse the community is not benefiting from that project,” he explained.

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The audit, the final in a series of assessments that started in 2008 covering CDF and LAFT-funded projects, further revealed that another Sh40.5 million was unaccounted for while Sh22.2 million was lost in abandoned projects.

“The CDF Act states that every constituency is supposed to implement 25 projects per financial year but sometimes you get up to 300 projects. So many have not been completed dating back to 2005,” explained Napisa.

“And in instances where we have new Members of Parliament, projects stall because they decide to start others,” he added.

Napisa also took issue with a LATF project by the Busia Municipal Council for the construction of a bridge in Nambale constituency saying it did not serve its purpose.

“That is a project that cost about Sh80 million yet the estimated cost by our technical team was Sh900,000 and to make matters worse the river is away from the bridge so whoever built it had an ulterior motive,” he argued.

Outgoing MPs Charles Keter (Belgut) and Charles Onyancha (Kitutu Chache) urged the EACC to investigate the findings of the report and ensure that those misusing funds were prosecuted.

Onyancha, whose constituency was ranked position nine, pledged to keep up the good work if re-elected as MP.

Keter, on the other hand, called for an amendment of the CDF Act saying MPs should administer the kitty.

“We are the constituency CEOs so we should manage CDF because we understand what projects would best serve our people,” said Keter.

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Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) vice chairperson Irene Keino added that the report’s findings would be investigated and those found culpable will be held to account.

“When you are convicted of unjustified wealth you are barred from seeking any elective or appointive posts for 10 years so maybe you’ll need to go to church and repent,” she warned.

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