Members of Parliament drawn from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) joined forces on Wednesday to fault a government agency for a move they term as unfair, and unconstitutional.
In a rare turn of events, the move by the government agency saw Members of Parliament from UDA and ODM joining forces to rebuke them. Speaking during Parliament sessions with the Transport Committee, the MPs questioned the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) for the revision of ceilings for funds allocated for the construction of constituency roads.
Following the reduction, ODM's Mathare Member of Parliament Anthony Oluoch requested a statement from the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the reasons for the systemic reduction of allocation of 22% and 10% funding to KeRRA for road construction and maintenance.
“In the recent past, there has been a systematic reduction of the 22% and 10% constituency ceiling allocation issued by the Kenya Rural Roads Authority." the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)-allied MP complained.
According to the Members of Parliament, the reduction of the allocation is limiting development in their constituencies.
"The High Court in Nairobi issued an interim conservatory order on August 19, 2024, directing the Kenya Roads Board to freeze and withhold funds collected in FY 2024/2025 to the extent of Kshs. 10.52 billion to be allocated to County Governments.” MP Oluoch continued.
Supporting his ODM counterpart, Buuri UDA MP Rindikiri Mugambi questioned why the Kenya Roads Board made annual adjustments without consulting Parliament despite there being an agreed-upon formula in place.
"I wonder why the Kenya Roads Board does not consult the House of Parliament and instead chooses to consult with the Council of Governors when coming up with the revisions yet it is Parliament that allocates these funds,” the MP inquired.
The Leader of the Minority Party and ODM's Suna East Hon. Junet Mohammed raised alarm over the management of both the Kenya Roads Board and KeRRA, pointing out that it was not the first time that the two road authorities had revised ceilings without proper consultation and thereafter with-thereafter circulars upon outcry.
On his part, UDA's Dagoretti South MP, Hon John Kiarie called out the Council of Governors for interfering. This is after the council of governors to court to fight for the funds allocated to the Kenya Rural Roads Authority for the construction of rural roads at the constituency level.
UDA's Tharaka Member of Parliament George Murugara and ODM's Kisii County MP, Hon. Doris Aburi noted that the only development happening in the constituencies is through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) which will soon be stopped following a court ruling terming it unconstitutional.
Responding to the MP's queries, Transport Committee Chairperson and Ndia MP, Hon George Kariuki revealed that he had engaged the Ministry upon receipt of the circular questioning why Parliament had not been consulted adding that following his intervention, the said circular had subsequently been withdrawn.
The Members of parliament have called for the immediate revocation of the circular on the reduction and return of status quo on the ceilings for the 2024/25 financial year.
