By Gerald Mukembu
North Imenti Member of Parliament Rahim Dawood has called on the national government to release the withheld National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGC-DF) to enable him implement various projects in his constituency.
According to the legislator, approximately Ksh25 million earmarked for development has not yet been disbursed from the national treasury.
“We urge the government to release the NGC-DF funds. This financial year, I am yet to receive about Ksh25 million. Additionally, there is another Ksh8 million from the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), which complicates our efforts to repair roads in my constituency,” Rahim stated.
The MP also raised concerns regarding the lack of constructed Grade 9 classrooms under the Junior Secondary School program.
Speaking during a public participation event in Meru, the MP pointed out that North Imenti constituency requires around 20 to 30 Grade 9 classrooms that are yet to be built across various junior secondary schools.
“We are lagging behind in implementing the Grade 9 program. My constituency alone needs between 20 and 30 classrooms,” he emphasized.
On school bursary funds, the MP expressed his opposition to the government’s plan to merge various bursary funds into the Ministry of Education, arguing that all bursaries, including those provided by the county government, be managed by local MPs who according to him are better positioned to identify the most vulnerable members of the community.
He further expressed his support for a bill aimed at clarifying the requirements for public participation, which the courts have recently put weight on.
“We want to understand the criteria for public participation, including the maximum and minimum number of participants required,” he said.
