| dc.description.abstract | This study is an attempt to review and analyze the multiple layers off informal and informal political powers at the Local-level in Kenya using selected CDF projects in South Imenti, Meru County. In the recent years the Kenyan Government has intensified the use of , decentralized programs in its strategy to tackle poverty, reverse regional disparities, improve service delivery, enhance economic governance, promote citizen participation as well as enable local-level institutions to effectively manage revenues and expenditures.
A prime example of this policy is the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) launched in 2003. The CDF allocates resources to all of the 210 constituencies, taking into account constituency poverty levels. The legal framework entrenching CDF covers the legal and institutional framework through which the fund operates, the financial and procurement procedures, project identification, planning and implementation and monitoring and evaluation process. It is hoped that, the strategy will enhance people's participation and power in decision making process to promote good governance.
The CDF is designed to consider local needs and preferences, by transferring resources directly to constituencies and stipulating that the Members of Parliament (MP) in each constituency should decide along with members of the local. community how to use the funds to tackle poverty. The CDF Act allows the MPs to be members of the Constituency Development. Fund Committees (CDFC), constitute and convene the CDFC meetings, serve as chairpersons or patrons in addition to transmitting projects proposal to the District Projects Committee among other multiple duties.
In practice however, there have been concerns that the CDF Act gives MPs blanket powers leading to a conflict of interest. Participation of project beneficiaries in the decision making processes and implementation of the funds has also been limited. Are the legal powers being stretched through political means? CDF is essentially about distribution of power and resources among different levels of the society and among different interests in their relationships to ruling elites. This study therefore suggests that, the institution of the office of MP in Kenya, while vibrant, is conducive to the provision of goods and service in clientelistic networks. | en_US |
