Members of Parliament (MPs) are now looking at ways of doubling the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) allocations in a bill that is set to be introduced in parliament today.
The MPs want to control at least five per cent (5%) up from 2.5 per cent of the national government’s total revenue share.
If the bill is passed, MPs will receive Kshs. 270 million, a substantial raise from the current Kshs. 137 million.
In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the legislators received a total of Kshs. 41.7 billion which is Kshs. 137 million per year for all 290 constituencies.
The CDF Act of 2013, which the court declared illegal stipulates that the government allocates 2.5 per cent of its ordinary revenue for disbursement under the program.
“Senate oversight fund will comprise of monies of an amount of not less than 0.001 per cent of all the national government’s share of revenue as divided by the annual Division of Revenue Act enacted pursuant to Article 218,” read part of the bill.
In the new bill, there is also a push to have Senate Oversight Fund (SOF), National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) and the Economic Stimulus and Empowerment Fund (ESEF).
NGAAF will be allocated at least 1.4 per cent of the government’s share of revenue yearly as divided by the annual Division of Revenue.
President William Ruto has been advocating for the resumption of the NG-CDF and setting up the Senate Oversight Fund.
Declaring the NG-CDF as unconstitutional has delayed the release of the funds. It has negatively affected schools and students who depend on bursaries and the construction of schools’ infrastructure and other projects.
The treasury also revealed that it shall release Kshs. 2 Billion every week for the NG-CDF for approval by the Attorney General.
The treasury is awaiting a legal opinion from the AG on the implications of the Supreme Court ruling which declared the NG-CDF unconstitutional.
MPs had also threatened to block all government business including the approval of President Ruto’s nominees for Principal Secretary positions if the Treasury failed to release the required funds.