The Community

I’ve written below about my admiration for the CDF scheme. I see enormous potential in it. There are two aspects that I particularly love about it. One is that it takes the resources to the mashinani (grass roots), thus circumventing one of the biggest issues that has plagued Kenya for a long time. The issue of political tribalism. For some reason, the peoples of Kenya are convinced that one has to have the presidency for development to come to their side of the world. Clearly a minister will not do because in independent Kenya, the big tribes and some smaller ones have always had representation in government. The much ‘maligned Luos’ have had a vice president, 2 foreign affair ministers and many more. The Luhyas have had no less than 3 Vice presidents etc. The CDF scheme elevates a member of parliament (MP), suddenly to a small president of their constituency. Some have argued against this and said the an mp should be restricted to making laws in the Kenyan parliament. I disagree, the MP as an individual who has to seek mandate every 5 years is exactly the right person to be the head of the scheme. Since most constituencies in Kenya are mono-ethnic, suddenly the fight for resources on ethnic lines becomes a moot point and the battle ground shifts from the national realm, to the constituency zone.

The second wonderful thing about the scheme, is the emphasis on transparency. The internet has made it possible, for any government that so wishes to be as transparent as they want to be. The data for the CDF scheme is available in the internet, and all aspects of it. The money distributed to the individual constituency and the expenditure of every constituency in Kenya. Even if false data has been put in, the mwananchi (common man) or Wanjiku as they say here can clarify that by visiting various projects in his or her constituency. Compare this to the murky way our local governments function. We know that they receive money from the government, through LATF but we have no clue as to how and where the money is spent. How much is collected through other means which, theoretically should be much more than money given by the government. How many people they employ, who is in charge of what etc. Local government, in Kenya meaning city, town, municipal and county councils affect the lives of the mwananchi more than national politics, yet there are few if any that even have a decent running official website. Not even the great cities of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu and if they do, please show me.

The potential of the CDF, is if it were extended to serve all the needs of the communities within any given constituency. For what does a community need?

1. Infrastructure (roads and/or rail)
2. Services by which I mean water and electricity
3. Schools
4. Health centres
5. Centres which can accomodate things like shops, libraries, churches, hotels, restaurants etc. This are more the domain of private enterprise but space needs to be allocated by relevant authorities
6. Recreational areas for sporting activities. Parks, football fields, basketball courts. This are spaces generally missing from estates in Nairobi, although this are a very important to an area. The theory in Kenya, seems to be that if it can’t make money, then we won’t make it. Huge mistake, because this spaces contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and ultimately to a more motivated people.

Generally if all this aspects could be moved from the central government to the constituency level and from there to the cities and towns, then our country will, I’m sure, make huge strides ahead and ultimately be more stable and peaceful for it.