Karua questions CDF oversight, says watchdog cannot police itself

Martha Karua, leader of the People Liberation Party (PLP), has reignited discussions about the oversight of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF), highlighting that the current system lacks sufficient checks. Karua's assertion is that the CDF oversight body is the same institution that implements the fund, which she claims renders the structure flawed. She notes that this dual role has been a concern since she served as a member of parliament overseeing the fund.

Her comments have reignited an ongoing debate about the feasibility of effectively monitoring constituency development funds when the implementation and oversight functions are intertwined. Karua's remarks surface as there is growing parliamentary scrutiny over the management of NGFDF resources, with MPs urging fund managers to enhance transparency, financial record-keeping, and adherence to auditing standards.

The National Assembly's Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee (DFAC), chaired by Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi, has recently assessed Auditor-General reports on nine constituencies within Nakuru County. The committee has advised fund managers to maintain accurate financial records and collaborate with auditors to reduce the frequency of audit queries.

Mulyungi emphasized that certain fund managers are performing well without receiving any audit queries, and he encouraged all fund managers to emulate these practices by ensuring close coordination with auditors. The accountability debate has been further fueled by the NGCDF Board's introduction of QR codes at project sites, allowing the public to access details on project costs, implementation progress, and completion status. This move is aimed at increasing transparency in fund management.

The NGCDF Board's current allocation for the 2026/27 financial year stands at Ksh61.797 billion, with Ksh58.707 billion designated for constituency projects and Ksh3.089 billion for administrative expenses. The renewed scrutiny of the fund's operations is also coinciding with investigations into various irregularities, including allegations of procurement malpractices, ghost projects, inflated costs, proxy contracting, and improper bursary allocations involving constituency funds.

In light of these developments, Karua's intervention underscores not only the importance of proper utilization of NGCDF funds but also the necessity of an independent oversight framework to hold fund implementers accountable.