Women Reps to control Ksh 2B CDF kitty

Woman Representatives will finally get to control seven million shillings from each constituency in their respective counties to help them address gender issues and other projects under the Constituency Development Fund.

The allocation will, therefore, vary based on the number of constituencies in each county totalling to 2.03 billion shillings.

The National Assembly allocated 2 billion shillings within the CDF kitty to allow the elected women MPs from counties to have a stake in the grass root development.

The fund is a result of a long tussle as the county members of the National Assembly fought to gain control of a portion of the constituency development money for them to be counted as contributors of development in their respective counties.

This was from the thinking that their elected male counterparts would have unmerited advantage over them courtesy of the fund.

The allocation is aimed at helping the Women Representatives address gender issues, fight genital mutilation and other projects.

As such, Nairobi County Woman Rep Rachael Shebesh will control the largest share of 119 million shillings, 7 million shillings from each of the 17 constituencies in Nairobi.

Kakamega county’ Racheal Ameso and Kiambu’s Ann Nyokabi Gathecha taking the second largest share of 84 million shillings each, given that the counties have 12 constituencies each.

Nakuru county Women Rep Mary Mbugua will have 77 million shillings at her disposal coming from the 11 constituencies in the county.

Lamu County’s Shakila Abdalla and Isiolo’s Tiyah Galgalo are the most disadvantaged since their counties have only two constituencies each meaning they will control only 14 million shillings each.

Following a court ruling that declared CDF Act illegal, all expenditure of this kitty will only be used to fund national government functions at the grassroots since the money comes from the national government.

Report by Kendagor Obadiah