MP wants CDF Review, Links Current ‘Discriminatory’ Allocation Formula to School Dropouts
Thika Town lawmaker Alice Ng’ang’a said that the formula the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) is distributed now is unfair and should be changed.
During a public forum on this year’s NG-CDF priority areas, the outspoken MP argued that the formula should take the number of people into account, so constituencies with a lot of people should get twice as much funding.
She gave an example of a population where constituencies get full scholarships through high school and college, but that cannot be done in Thika Town because there are too many students.
“This is discriminatory to our people and that’s why the rate of school dropouts due to lack of school fees in our areas is high. We need such constituencies made super, where we can receive double allocation and are allowed to vote twice on key parliamentary decisions,” Ng’ang’a said.
Ngáng’a wants other lawmakers to join her in trying to make the NG-CDF allocation formula based on population.
She promised that when the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) draws new boundaries, she will make sure that her constituency is split in two.
During the consultative forum held at the Community Hall in Hospital Ward, residents asked the MP to put the education of children first by giving out more bursaries and fixing up old school buildings.
They also praised the government for giving back the NG/CDF and asked the legislator to think about finishing projects that the previous government didn’t finish.
This comes at a time when National Treasury has started holding public hearings for the proposed the financial year 2023/2024.
During the three days of public hearings at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), stakeholders from different sectors will be able to validate the budget proposals and give feedback on them.
During the official launch, Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo said that the public hearing will give people a chance to take part in making the National budget and give their ideas.
“I wish to request our stakeholders to critically analyze the budget proposals and give us your inputs for incorporation in the finalization of the National Budget,” Kiptoo said
“In developing the draft budget proposals for the medium-term, Sector Working Groups reviewed the budget performance for the past three years and reflected on priorities for the ensuing period. The sector budget proposals will provide valuable information that will be used in the finalization of the Budget,” he added
James Muhati, who is in charge of economic planning, said that the Third Medium Plan (MTP), 2018–2022, was used to make the budget. This plan will end in June 2023 to make way for the Fourth Medium Term Plan.
The fourth Medium-Term Plan will mainly focus on the core pillars of the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto.
“Implementation of the Fourth Medium Term Plan will foster growth, wealth and employment creation, poverty reduction, and improved livelihoods for all Kenyans from the bottom of the pyramid,” he added
In November, the National Treasury started working on the budget for 2023–2024, which is estimated to cost Ksh3.64 trillion.
MP wants CDF Review, Links Current ‘Discriminatory’ Allocation Formula to School Dropouts
