By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hinted at plans to push for a review of the laws governing the allocation of resources to constituencies through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
The CDF Act provides that the government set aside at least 2.5% of its ordinary revenue for disbursement under the CDF program.
Three-quarters of the amount is divided equitably between Kenya’s 210 constituencies whilst the remaining 1/4th is divided based on a poverty index to cater for poorer constituencies.
However, according to the second in command, the formula puts at a disadvantage constituencies with high numbers.
With the current provision, every constituency almost gets the same share.
“It cannot be that a constituency like Ruiru with almost 800,000 people is given the same CDF allocation as a constituency with 14,000 people,” DP Gachagua said on Sunday, May 12, 2024. “It’s not fair,” he added.
The DP now insists that it is time the infamous one man, one shilling, one vote formula is applied in the allocation of resources.
There has been a push for the formula for years now, and it was one of the proposals in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) that the courts declared unconstitutional.
“I am a proponent of one man, one vote and one shilling. Resources are about people. The more you are, the more taxes you pay,” the second in command said.
“We want fairness in sharing of the revenue and we will pushing that agenda,” he added.
The DP spoke when he addressed locals in Embu County. He had earlier attended a Church Service at ACK Cathedral of St. Peter’s Mbeere, Siakago.
Speaking at various stopovers, Gachagua also urged Kenyans to continue with their hard work in driving the economy and support the Government of President William Ruto in the Development Agenda of the nation.
“My interaction with the people at Kigumo Market, Kirinyaga County, this afternoon was such a moment of sharing crucial gains in reforming the Tea, Coffee, and Dairy and other subsector reforms aimed at dignifying small-scale farmers,” he added in a post on his verified X handle.