Newly elected members of Kenya’s 13th parliament have joined forces to salvage the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), which was recently shot down by the courts.
Emerging reports imply that all MPs-elect have already planned a meeting to discuss the Supreme Court verdict that declared the fund unconstitutional.
The ruling inflicted major pain on legislators who find themselves with no kitty to finance development projects and issue bursaries.
In a rare show of unity, the MPs have been holding frantic consultations regardless of their political affiliation, in a desperate bid to salvage a fund which some claim to be the best thing that ever happened to the Kenyan Parliament.
Most of them feel that they have no option but to defend the kitty, arguing that NG-CDF is a public entity with resources meant for the taxpayers which the parliamentarians have to protect.
Insiders have revealed that one strategy being considered is the calling of an urgent round-table meeting between Parliament and members of the Executive to discuss how the fund can be ring-fenced and allowed to operate.
We expect this to happen after they have taken their oath of office and officially assumed their roles.
But as MPs prepare to mount a challenge on the nullification of the fund, legal landmines abound that do not make support their enthusiasm or determination.
In proscribing the fund, both the High Court and Supreme Court cited the doctrine of separation of powers, saying MPs cannot implement projects and programmes and also play its oversight role as detailed in the constitution.
Legal experts argue that this reason is anchored on solid ground and attempts by MPs to get around the question of separation of powers is a hard task that should be avoided.
