Press Release Langata - TISA

fadhili
SHELTER FORUM
The Voice of the people on Shelter For people centered development Promoting Social Responsibility
PRESS RELEASE
Langata Constituency Devolved Funds:
Ad hoc Running of Devolved Funds Must Stop
NAIROBI, Sept. 24, 2010—The lack of coordinated planning amongst the three devolved funds
in Langata Constituency namely CDF, LATF and ESP is a source of duplication of efforts and
confusion in resource management in the area.
A study by TISA has established that the absence of a strategic plan for the Constituency has led to
poor accountability mechanisms, lack project prioritisation and increased cases of corruption
“Most of projects funded in Langata constituency were done independently without consulting
other existing financing agencies while very few of the total projects visited in Langata
Constituency have accountability Boards. As such, it is difficult to differentiate project
implementers. This is against the law” the report says
The officers running the funds were unable to avail the list of approved projects for 2008/2009
and 2009/2010, and the specific work-plans and bills of quantities requested while the official
CDF website does not have the up to date project lists and despite numerous requests for this
information it was not availed implying that project lists for the funds disbursed since 2088
have not been prepared or published by the CDFC in contravention to the law.
The report launched today notes that of both LASDAP and the CDF officers are not privy to
project records and information that would make their work useful in ensuring accountability.
The absence of popularly selected and transparent project committees in the CDF is seriously
undermining citizen oversight in CDF management in Langata Constituency.
“The officers as presently serving as mere rubberstamps without basic information such as
total amounts allocated to projects they mange, contractor information and work plan” the
report continues.
Sore Road, South B. P.O. Box 9202, The Institute for Social Accountability Rattansi Educational Trust Building,
00100 Nairobi Kenya. Tel: +254-020- Number 1, Wendy Court, David Osieli 1st Flr. Koinange St. P.O. 14041,
2608560; Email: shelter@shelterforum. Road, off Waiyaki Way 00100 Nairobi Kenya Tel: +254-020-
or.ke www.shelterforum.or.ke P.O. Box 48353 – 00100 Nairobi 343061/2; +254-720366195 Fax:+254-
info@tisa.or.ke www.tisa.or.ke 020-343067 ufadhilitrust@ufadhilitrust.
org www.ufadhilitrust.org
The study wants some projects investigated with a view to prosecuting those likely to have
been involved in corruption. These are St Mary’s Primary (2004/5) Kshs. 648,500, Kibera
Primary School (2004/5, 2005/6, 2006/7) Kshs. 3,200,199, Laini Saba Foot bridge Kshs 1,207,997,
CDF Constituency Office (2003/4, 2006/7,2007/8) Kshs 2,000,477, Anyany Primary School
(2003/4,2004/5) Kshs 2,904,642, Sarangombe 10 pit latrines- 2005/6 – Kshs 785,000 LATF, Laini
Saba Water platform – 2005/6 – Kshs 1,000,000 and Rehabilitation of Karanja Road Drainage
(double funding CDF/LATF)
Report findings reveal that 6 out of 19 [30%] of the CDF projects visited had no community
involvement at any stage: These include, Drainage along Karanja road; Repair of 8 classrooms
at Karen St. Mary’s Primary school. In these cases, the interaction between the community and
duty bearers/implementing agency [CDF officials] is very low, and the projects implemented
are out of touch with the intended beneficiaries’ needs and priorities.
According to the report, The Langata CDF employs private technical experts with very little
involvement of government technical officers as prescribed by law. This has led to situation
where it is difficult to ascertain the quality and completeness if projects.
For example, the management committee at Karen St. Mary’s primary requested a repair of 8
classrooms. This is also indicated on the CDF Website, yet the CDF team decided to change the
project to be supply of desks to the school. Out of the promised 100 desks, only 7 have been
supplied so far. These projects did not have project committees.
The report makes a number of recommendations; First, all projects should have project
committees who should be chosen by the community through a transparent and participatory
process. PMC’s should be required to provide the community with regular updates of progress
on the project. Additionally, PMC members are not allowed under law to serve as suppliers/
contractors as this is a conflict of interest. The CDFC should act swiftly against such cases, and
if necessary offenders should be reported to the KACC.
Second, all projects should have accountability boards detailing the name of project, scope of
project, funding agency, amount, year, and name of contractor, these can be painted onto the
relevant project where possible to save on costs.
Thirdly, all contractors who have taken on public contracts should be required to adhere to
basic accountability practices and those cited as failing to complete projects or defrauding the
projects should be blacklisted form public projects and the blacklist made available for public
scrutiny;
We are concerned about the quality of CDF projects visited and recommend the CDFC to undertake
a value for money audit of a sample of projects to ensure that buildings being constructed are of
required quality and public resources are put to good use.
Background
The Nairobi Social Audit campaign was jointly undertaken by The Institute for Social
Accountability [TISA], Shelter Forum and Ufadhili Trust. The campaign targeted three
decentralized funds: The Constituency Development Fund [CDF], The Local Authority Transfer
Fund [LATF] and The Economic Stimulus Programme [ESP].
The validation forum is part of the Nairobi-Kisumu social audit campaign which
targeted three decentralized funds: Constituency Development Fund [CDF], Local Authority
Transfer Fund [LATF] and Economic Stimulus Programme [ESP].
The validation forum aims at getting feedback from constituents, duty bearers and other actors
in the constituency and verifying the findings of the report.
A social audit is a process that seeks to evaluate how well public resources are being used to
meet the real needs of target beneficiaries. If well implemented the social audit is an important
tool to enable local communities influence local development outcomes.
The Nairobi-Kisumu Social Audit Campaign aimed at: Creating awareness of local governance
institutions, identifying resources and opportunities for citizen engagement through social
audits and the Utilization of the social audit findings to lobby for reforms.
Since June 2010, with the help of stakeholders, the Kasarani Constituency social audit team
visited a total of 14 projects out of which 11 were CDF and 3 were LATF/LASDAP. Vital information
about the utilization and management of financial resources allocated to these projects was
collected and compiled into a preliminary report.
////THE END////
Media Contact: Dorah Nesoba

Tel: +254 020 444 3676; 0722 711193
Email: dorah.nesoba@tisa.or.ke or
info@tisa.or.ke
www.tisa.or.ke

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Media Contact: Dorah Nesoba

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