Roads funds not shared fairly, says MP
Story by NATION Reporters
( Luo Nyanza Jimbo roads condition, photo)
An MP has accused the Government of favouring some regions in allocating resources.
Mr John Mbadi (Gwassi, ODM) demanded to know on Wednesday, why there were disparities in money set aside for road projects during the 2008/2009 Financial Year.
Contributing during the fourth day of debate on the Budget Speech by Finance minister Amos Kimunya, Mr Mbadi questioned the rationale of giving Central Province Sh5.3 billion for roads, while Coast got Sh355 million. Other regions he took issue with were Kirinyaga and Nyandarua North districts which, he said, were allocated Sh2 billion.
Their portion, he said, “compared questionably” with the entire Nyanza Province whose allocation for roads was Sh2.9 billion. “We need equity and regional balance in allocation of resources in the entire governmental reforms. And I wonder why we only have major road funding to one region.”
His complaints were reminiscent of the 2005/2006 Budget when the then Roads minister Raila Odinga faced the wrath of MPs for allegedly allocating more funds to Bondo, Nyeri and the larger Ameru districts. Members who scrutinised the allocations accused Mr Odinga of favouring his and other areas where political heavyweights came from.
Mr Mbadi said that favouring some regions in allocation of funds would only perpetuate disparities and social unease. He proposed that Parliament be given more say in preparing and monitoring the Budget.
During the Ninth Parliament, the then nominated MP Oloo Aringo brought a Motion seeking to give MPs a bigger role in the Budget process. In his view, the Budget had been misused by successive governments to reward “friendly” regions and “starve” areas deemed to be Opposition strongholds.
Courtesy of;http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=2&newsid=126108
1 user commented in " Roads funds not shared fairly, says Nyanza MP "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThis is the usual way of making many areas to become poorer.The preblem we have in Kenya is
poor representation at all levels.This lopsided allocation in the national budget has been going on since the time of Kenyatta.It is what brought underdevelopment in many areas.Parliament members are always no keen enough to analyse the budget proposals.
Mt.kenya region has been getting a half of budget allocation since the time of Kenyatta immediately after Tom Mboya’s assassination. When Tom Mboya was the minister of Planning
every part of the use to get its rightful share in the allocation.Here,kenyans are in prison ,the leadership we have know does not care about fairness when it comes to distribution.
The buget allocation is done by ministry of planning and finance which are in the hand of
Mt. Kenya Mafia.Kenyans should asked the officials of these two ministries their reasons
of lopsided budget before we go to ministers.The professionals in the two ministries should show the face of kenya not to be from only one tribe.
There is no way kenyans are going to continue paying taxes to develop only one region.Nyanza
is second to Nairobi when it comes paying tax.But,nyanza get the least in the budget allocation since the time of Kenyatta.This is indeed unfair.There are times when the government proposed a project to be undertaken
in nyanza but the same government fail to release money for the project. This is one of
the ways the government has continue to underdevelop Nyanza. I know of many projects
which were proposed but the government never release the fund for them. For example,expanding Kisumu Airport came in the budget of the year 2004 but releasing fund for
the project has never been there.What ministry of finance always do is reallocate funds made for other areas to Central region after the discussion of the budget in the parliament.
Other kenyans have leaders who are satisfied with increased salaries and allowances for their personal use. They do not care whether their regions are being underdeveloped .It is
time these leaders wake up.The so called professionals are composed of one tribe and their intention is to make ODM leaders unpopular.
When Odinga was the minister of roads ,the same professionals worked it out so that his
home district got lions share inoder to make appear to kenyans a sectionist.The same people
never bothered to develop Langata because that would have worked to his advantage when it comes to General Election.
Therefore,i would like to urge leaders from other regions to wake up and demand their rights.Kenyans should asked for equal employment and distribution of personnel in all
ministries. Parliamentarians should analyse the budget properly before passing it.We expect you
to be on look out in order to save kenya.
There was no reason at all to allocate huge money to Security as oppose to Agriculture.
Food is the most important item of all the human needs. Without food ,there will be no
security at all.Therefore,it was a mistake to allocate additional fund for security which
the same government created by its lopsided development.Take from now,they will be no security if the government still using unfair policies. Increasing anumber of police and police stations will no help if there is no food for kenyans.
Until Mt. kenya leaders start realising that other regions need fairness,the so call peace
will always be temporary.This is happening in any party of the world where their unfairness
of distribution of development.Other regions in kenya are just asking for what should be theirs.
Hon.Mbadi your contribution on the issue of unfairness in the allocation is well supported.
Nyanza has been ignore for along time. Our leaders should come out and talk. We elected you to talk on behalf of electorates.Our silence since the death of Mboya has brought
miseries instead of development.
Let me ask leaders in parliament to find out why ministries of finance and planning are out
to mess other regions .Again,MPs should ask for majimbo so that other regions can also develop.
It is only majimbo which is going to help other regions to develop. There is no way other regions are going to continue paying taxes to develop one region.
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