Show Me The Money

In a dramatic showdown over public funds, Members of Parliament are launching their third attempt to control billions through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), while counties face mounting criticism over development spending and financial management.

MPs are pushing for constitutional amendments to entrench CDF and establish a new Ward Development Fund, despite a Supreme Court ruling that previously declared CDF unconstitutional. This move comes as parliament remains divided over Sh62 billion in conditional grants to counties, with MPs and senators unable to reach consensus on allocation methods.

Meanwhile, county governments are under scrutiny for their spending patterns. A recent report revealed that ten counties, including Nairobi under Governor Sakaja and Kisii under Simba Arati, showed poor development spending. The Controller of Budget has raised red flags over counties operating multiple bank accounts, warning this practice increases the risk of corruption and mismanagement.

Governors defend their position, arguing they cannot spend money they haven't received from the National Treasury. They cite significant delays in disbursement as the primary reason for low development expenditure. However, this explanation hasn't satisfied critics who point to a concerning trend of prioritizing recurrent expenditure over development projects.

The ongoing battle for control over public funds highlights a deeper conflict between national and county governments over resource allocation and management. As MPs push for more control through CDF, counties struggle with transparency issues and development spending, leaving citizens caught in the crossfire of these institutional power struggles.