Re: ODM: The Start Of The End?

From: Kuria-Mwangi

Joab O. wrote:
"Both CDF and Free secondary school education are opposition ideas that Kibaki hijacked."

Free Secondary education yes. CDF no. The brainchild of CDF was one Muriuki Karua (The Olkalou MP)

Kuria

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Hon. Eng. Muriuki Karue Muriuki, CBS MP, Olkalou Constituency

Parliamentary Experience / milestones

December 1997 Elected as MP for Ol'kalou on DP ticket

December 2002 Re-elected as MP for Ol'kalou on Narc ticket

1998 Conceived, initiated and moved parliamentary motion to change from use of 20 shilling pounds in the annual national budget estimates and presentation to Kenya shillings. Since then the Government monetary & fiscal figures are rendered in Kenyan Shillings, the legal tender in Kenya.

1999 Tabled motion in parliament seeking 5 percent of national revenue to be allocated to constituencies for local projects.

1999 Successfully lobbied for legislation and establishment of the District Roads Committees (DRCs) within the Kenya Roads Board Act. As a result all the 210 constituencies are guaranteed a share of fuel levy road maintenance funds. Since then, 16 percent of the funds are allocated to constituency roads and further 24 percent to the district minor roads improving rural accessibility to the benefit of farmers and attracting investments to rural areas.

2000 Moved the motion for Government funding for constituency projects at 5% of government revenue. Passed but with a Government amendment toning the amount down from 5% to 2.5%. However, the government of the day was very reluctant to implement the motion.

2001 Led parliamentary delegation comprising fellow MPs to Middle East, Singapore & Australia, principally to study and report on merits & demerits of privatized sea-ports and other transport infrastructure.

2001 Led parliamentary delegation comprising fellow MPs to Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, to study and report on alternative sources of energy, principally nuclear power and wind energy.

2001-02 Tried unsuccessfully to lobby for the implementation of the motion to fund constituency-based projects. Government refused to implement.

2002 Tabled motion seeking leave of parliament to introduce the Constituencies Development Fund Bill the essence of which was to force the implementation of the earlier motion on the funding of constituency based development projects. The motion was passed and leave granted in October 2002, a few days before Parliament was dissolved to pave way for the general elections.

2002 Re-elected as MP for Olkalou on NARC ticket.

2003 Armed with the leave of the House granted earlier, drafted and successfully moved bill for establishment of the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). The bill was passed in December 2003. As a result every Constituency in Kenya is entitled to development funding out of a kitty comprising 2.5% of the Government revenue in the year. Actual disbursements commenced in August 2004.

2004 Elected to chair the CDF select committee of Parliament with the mandate of overseeing the implementation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

2005 & 2006 Re-elected to chair the CDF select committee. Overseeing the implementation policy and monitoring field operations through visits to projects in various constituencies in all regions of the country.

2005 Led parliamentary delegation to Zambia, Ethiopia and India principally to study devolved funds.

2005 Led study tour of Brazil, Panama and Canada, to study devolved funds and development policy of grassroot infrastructure in those countries

2005 Tabled in Parliament a comprehensive report of the CDF policy and practice. Various amendments were proposed for smooth running and better accountability of the fund, among other things. It has now been developed into a bill due to be debated by Parliament soon

2005-2006 The CDF select committee hosted delegations from other countries in the region wanting to learn about the CDF concept for possible introduction to their countries. Uganda, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia.

2006 Led the CDF parliamentary committee on a tour of Egypt and Ghana, to study devolved funds and the system they use for grassroot infrastructure in those countries.

2006 Tour of Uganda with the Budget Committee