Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaking at the Jukwaa La Usalama, Makueni County./MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has defended the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), terming the outlawing of the kitty by the courts as a setback for the country's development.
According to the CS, the fund is critical in financing important projects across the country.
He commended legislators for putting into good use the funds at the grassroots, especially in building police stations to address the current shortage.
“I want to thank MPs for the prudent use of the fund. NG-CDF is a noble idea. Any money going closer to the people has a direct impact and should go to the wards,” said the CS.
Murkomen argued that it is more seamless to send the funds to the constituency level as opposed to lobbying the National Treasury to release the funds.
“NG-CDF has come in handy in helping schools, and the same should be extended to the security sector. The MPs should allocate part of the portion to help to build stations and administrative units to curb insecurity,” appealed the CS.
Murkomen was responding to issues raised by security officers in the Jukwaa la Usalama town hall meeting, Makueni chapter.
The court’s decision has sparked criticism from MPs, insisting that the fund is critical in addressing critical infrastructure needs at the grassroots.
The ruling also comes at a time when Anabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga and his Rarieda counterpart Otiende Amollo have sponsored a Bill to entrench NG-CDF in the constitution.
Murkomen also revealed that his ministry is in the final stages of formulating a standard design for the construction of police stations and administration units.
“We are working on the designs. We want the stations to have the same design across the country,” affirmed the CS, noting that some stations and administration units are old and have different designs.
He stated the offices of National Government Administrative Officers and the police stations should be standardised in light of the ongoing modernisation being undertaken by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“We want the stations to be centers of excellence with similar designs, not that stations in Makueni, Turkana and Mombasa counties are different yet they are government institutions. Designs of NGAOs and police stations will be similar across the country, “ he promised.
He pledged to fast-track the digitisation of security operations, including the digital occurrence book (OB) to enable the roll-out of instant fines and reporting incidences.
Murkomen was joined by Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Senator Dan Maanzo, and other leaders.
