Date Posted: 1/22/2013 7:00:12 AM
Posted By: jullieflavia Membership Level: Gold Total Points: 2188
When the NARC government came into power in 2003, there was a need to address the problem of inequality in resource distribution. This led to the introduction of a programme to help solve this inequality. The constituency development fund (CDF) was launched. Among issues that were on point included rural to urban migration and unemployment problems. CDF has tried to achieve the following:Through the programme, many small businesses have been supported and this has created employment opportunities for many youths today. The support has encouraged rural investment or local investment in various sectors in the economy that has also helped to reduce the rural to urban migration in search of jobs.The funds have also been used to develop and construct infrastructural structures that have helped to upgrade the conditions of schools, hospitals and even roads. Through the funds, there has been an improvement in our schools and also in the roads. This has in turn been very essential in providing education with the relevant resources in the schools and the structures have been a motivation for learners to find it encouraging going to schools. The good roads that have been improved through the programme have been useful in harnessing growth and development in the constituencies since good roads ensures that transportation services are made faster. The amount of educated citizens is increasing. Schools are being built through funding by the CDF resources. Each of the schools that have been built by the aid of CDF funds is properly equipped in terms of teachers and facilities. This has increased the quality of education and aided free primary education in all constituencies. People who could not join higher institutions of learning because of financial difficulties are now able to get an education through loans that they repay after they can generate an income for themselves.The funds have been used to help needy students from poor backgrounds. The CDF programme has introduced bursaries for bright students in each constituency where they are supported through fee payment. This has greatly helped needy students to have access to the much needed education. In education sector the main work in the construction of tuition blocks, laboratories, dormitories, administration blocks, and bursary allocation where it is allocated for both post primary education as well for students pursuing higher education at tertiary institutions. Bursaries are awarded to deserving poor students’ mainly in secondary schools but in some cases post graduate applicants may also benefit.The programme has also been useful in rural electrification. The funds have helped to bring power to the constituencies for the last 10 years to a level that has been appreciated so much. CDF funds have also been invested in economic activities like projects in agriculture. Youths and entrepreneurs have been encouraged to do dairy farming, bee keeping, and even juakali artisans, art crafts and projects that would create employment for the youth and women groups have been encouraged.The major achievement of CDF funds is the amount of individually owned enterprises that it has created. These funds can be loaned out to individuals as short term loans upon the approval of the care taker committee. If you make or loose money as a result of your business you will still have to repay the money that you borrowed and under the stipulated conditions. In this method of borrowing, only small amounts of money can be borrowed by an individual or group of people in that constituency, this is meant to reduce the risks involved.Dispensaries and hospitals are now more developed than ever before. Stalled dispensary buildings and projects are now being completed in record time as a result of funding from the CDF kitty. In emergency cases like accidents the wounded are first taken to dispensaries for first aid then to hospitals leading to more survivors. Serious diseases in most cases are discovered in the smaller hospitals then thoroughly evaluated in the larger hospitals leading to less bereavement. Water resources are now reaching more and more people. The availability of water is a major issue which is now being addressed. Remote areas in the North Eastern province which have been suffering from drought have Lorries which deliver water when it is scarce. An enormous amount of boreholes are now up and running, women now walk less to get clean water for their household. All these projects have been funded by CDF funds.Even though the funds have been misappropriated by some greedy administrators, the challenges have not exceeded the benefits that have come with the programme. It is every Kenyan’s hope that the devolved government will improve this programme to a more transparent and accountable programme that can be relied on for development.
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