Online system to enhance running of CDF billions

Running of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) kitty is set to go online before end-year once a new management information system is put in place.

The CDF national board acting CEO Yusuf Mbuno said a consultant was finalising the programme which is expected to enhance prudent management of the kitty that is worth billions of shillings.

CDF has received Sh93.943 billion from the Exchequer since its inception in 2003 and the figure increases annually, with some Sh22.9 billion factored in the 2012/13 Budget presented last Thursday.

About 8,000 development projects have been initiated under the project with the lion’s share of the funds channelled towards education (46 per cent), water (11.5 per cent), and health (6.5 per cent).

Mr Mbuno said that 1,765 projects had stalled because of various factors including poor workmanship. Speaking to Mombasa-based CDF committees and members of the public yesterday, Mr Mbuno said the programme would go online by December.

“We have developed what we call the CDF management information system that will help us handle some of the challenges that we face. We started developing the system two years ago and it will be on a pilot (scheme) soon before going live,” he said. “Project proposals will be submitted online and Kenyans can log onto the system to find out their approval. Constituency offices will be linked with the national board to make our work more efficient and effective,” said Mr Mbuno.   

CDF board administration manager Benjamin Mugut said managers were being trained on the system. Mr Mbuno allayed fears that the CDF kitty would be done away with. He said it would be implemented side by side with county governments to take development to the grassroots level.

“The board is reviewing the CDF Act to realign it with the new Constitution. Already, the government has allocated us funds for next year’s projects and we have been assured of receiving allocations incoming years,” he said.

Mr Mbuno raised challenges facing the kitty and highlighted some mitigation measures. He identified sidelining of members of the public in project identification and implementation, poor projects implementation, poor workmanship, negative publicity, and conflict of interests in the tendering process as some of teething problems being addressed by the board.

gbocha@ke.nationmedia.com