Kesses Member of Parliament Dr. Swarup Mishra is now rooting for an increase in allocation to the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
This, the MP seeking a second term says, will enable more locals to benefit from the kitty initiated in 2003 under the first term of the late President Mwai Kibaki.
Speaking during the unveiling of an ultra-modern Kesses Constituency offices at Kesses Township on Friday, May 27, 2022, Dr. Mishra said NG-CDF has played a key role in transforming the education sector, roads, and other key infrastructural sectors.
CDF was created by the Constituencies Development Fund Act of 2003 with the primary objective of addressing poverty at a grassroots level.
The kitty, which was renamed NG-CDF, following the introduction of devolved units of government is allocated at least 2.5 percent of national government revenue that is used to fund among others building schools, and bursaries for the needy, roads, electricity, and supporting security infrastructure at the constituencies level.
Each of the 290 constituencies gets an equal share of the funds – which is usually between Ksh100 million to Ksh150 million per year.
“We have all seen what CDF has done to the people. I call on the government to consider increasing the allocation so that more can be done,” Dr. Mishra said.
He also expressed optimism that the newly opened Kesses constituency office will help enhance access to services by the locals.
The office, sitting on a well-manicured lawn at the center of Kesses Township, was fully funded by the NG-CDF money.
“The great people of Kesses now have an interactive hub where they engage, participate in open meetings, project formulation, and implementation, witness the commissioning of projects or cheques and other disbursements,” the MP said in a post on his verified Facebook page.
The MP is seeking re-election for a second term, this time around vying as an independent candidate.
He will be facing off with former Uasin Gishu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Economic Planning CPA Julius Ruto who is the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominee for the seat.
