For months, Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Council of Governors (CoG) have been at odds over the control of these funds, with governors pushing for greater control at the devolved level, while MPs argue that they are best placed to manage the resources
The ongoing debate over who should control the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) has intensified, with Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo accusing governors of being behind the court cases challenging the current management of the funds.
For months, Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Council of Governors (CoG) have been at odds over the control of these funds, with governors pushing for greater control at the devolved level, while MPs argue that they are best placed to manage the resources.
In a recent statement, Gisairo claimed that the CoG is actively sponsoring legal challenges to have control of KeRRA and NG-CDF funds transferred from MPs to county governments. He warned that MPs would not stand by and allow the funds, which are currently managed at the national level, to be handed over to governors, whom he accused of mismanaging the substantial funds they already receive for development purposes.
“The governors have already failed to manage the billions of shillings they receive from the national government for development. How can they be trusted with more money from KeRRA and NG-CDF?” Gisairo said. He further accused the CoG of spreading misleading reports about the management of these funds, which he believes are effectively administered through the MPs’ offices.
Gisairo also emphasized that transferring control of these funds to devolved units would be detrimental to constituency-level development. He called on the public to reject any moves that would impede the rapid development currently being experienced in constituencies under the current system.
“The governors are already receiving millions from the national government, but when you visit the ground, there is very little to show for it,” he remarked. “Giving them control of KeRRA and NG-CDF funds would only lead to more disasters in the counties.”
The MP made these comments during the commissioning of the Nyambaria Primary School area chief’s office, a project funded by NG-CDF. He further criticized governors for failing to deliver basic services, such as Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) classrooms, despite receiving funds designated for such projects.
In contrast, area Governor Amos Nyaribo defended the push for greater control by county governments, stating that all government funds should be channelled through counties to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
“The role of MPs is strictly legislative, oversight, and representation. How can they be trusted to oversee themselves, especially when there have been allegations of mismanagement of the funds allocated to their offices?” Nyaribo countered.
In addition to the ongoing debate over fund control, Gisairo urged his constituents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), despite the challenges facing the health insurance scheme. He emphasized the importance of registration to ensure better access to health services as the government works to address issues with medical insurance coverage.
“I encourage all the people of Kitutu Masaba to register as SHA members so that they can be in a better position to access health services as the government addresses the current challenges with the scheme,” Gisairo said.
