National Government Constituencies Development Fund Act, 2015

All monies allocated under this Act shall be considered as funds allocated to constituencies pursuant to Article 206(2)(c) of the Constitution to be administered in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The monies appropriated to the Fund in any financial year under subsection (1)(a) shall not be less than the amount appropriated to the Fund in the preceding financial year unless as otherwise allowed by this Act.

Each and every disbursement from the Fund shall be approved and recorded in the minutes of the Board.

All disbursements from the Fund shall be for specific projects as submitted by the constituencies in accordance with the procedures outlined in this Act.

All disbursements shall be made through the constituency bank accounts maintained for every constituency in accordance with section 12 of this Act.

Notwithstanding subsection (3), payments for a joint project or a joint procurement, may be made directly to a supplier or to an account established for the purpose with due approval of the Board.

The record of the amounts received by each constituency and the record of expenditure of amounts so received shall be submitted to the Board within thirty days after the close of the relevant financial year together with a copy of the relevant bank statements and no disbursements for the succeeding financial year shall be made into the accounts until the said records are duly received.

The Board shall set out general conditions and requirements for release of funds, to ensure efficient and effective management of resources.

The Board may impose reasonable requirements, including restrictions, on a particular constituency and such restrictions or requirements shall be reported together with the monthly returns to be submitted to the Cabinet Secretary in accordance with this Act.

The Cabinet Secretary shall, with the approval of the relevant Committee of the National Assembly, allocate funds for every constituency in each financial year in accordance with section 34.

Once funds are allocated for a particular project, they shall remain allocated for that project and may only be re-allocated for any other purpose during the financial year with the approval of the Board.

If for any reason a particular project is cancelled or discontinued during the financial year, funds allocated for such a project shall be returned to the Fund and credited to the account of the constituency from which the funds were withdrawn.

Unspent funds shall be allocated to any eligible project and such project may be new or ongoing at the end of the financial year.

For the avoidance of doubt, a return as set out in the First Schedule shall be made for the current financial year and every previous financial year on which some funds remain unspent.

All receipts, savings and accruals to the Fund and the balance of the Fund at the end of each financial year shall be returned to the Fund and applied in accordance with section 6(5) of this Act.

All funds allocated to a constituency shall be cumulative and shall be carried forward from one financial year to the next, including funds returned into the accounts in accordance with section 6(3) or funds which are not utilized for whatever reasons.

A portion of the Fund, equivalent to five per centum (hereinafter referred to as the “Emergency Reserve”) shall remain unallocated and shall be available for emergencies that may occur within the Constituency.

The Constituency Committee shall determine the allocation of the emergency reserve in accordance with the Act.

“Emergency” shall be construed to mean an’ urgent, unforeseen need for expenditure for which it is in the opinion of the committee that it cannot be delayed until the next financial year without harming the public interest of the constituents.

For the purpose of disbursement of funds under this Act there shall be opened and maintained a constituency account for every constituency at any commercial bank, approved by the National Treasury into which all funds shall be kept and such an account shall be known by the name of the constituency for which it is opened and each constituency shall maintain only one account.

At least three signatories shall be required for every cheque or instrument for actual payment or withdrawal of funds from a constituency account and the signing instructions shall be such that there shall be at least one signature of an officer seconded by the Board and at least two signatures of two members of the Constituency Committee.

The Fund account manager shall hold the authority to incur expenditure of the funds at the constituency account.

Funds from the constituency account shall only be withdrawn as disbursements for a particular project in accordance with the provisions of section 5 of the Act.

Every payment or instruction for payment out of the constituency fund account shall be strictly in accordance to the minutes of a resolution of a meeting of the Constituency Committee.

All receipts, savings and accruals to the constituency account and the balances thereof at the end of each financial year shall be returned to the Constituency Account.

All unutilized funds shall remain in the constituency account and no investment elsewhere shall be permitted, provided that funds meant for a project that is cancelled or discontinued shall be returned to the Constituency Account in accordance with section 6 of this Act.

All unutilized funds of the Project Management Committee shall be returned to the constituency account.

Any accruing revenues, interest and liabilities from any constituency account shall be declared to the Board together with the annual returns.

A bank account of the Fund shall be opened and maintained at the Central Bank of Kenya.

The signatories to the account of the Fund maintained in accordance with subsection (1), shall be the chief executive officer and three other persons appointed by the Board from amongst its members.

The signing instructions shall be such that the signature of the chief executive officer shall be mandatory on all payment cheques and/or instruments intended for actual release of money from the fund, plus and two of the other three signatories.

There is established a Board be known as the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board.

In nominating or approving the appointment of a person as a member of the Board under sub-section (1), the Cabinet Secretary and the National Assembly shall take into account gender equity and the regional diversities of the people of Kenya.

The Cabinet Secretary shall appoint the chairperson of the Board from amongst the five persons appointed in accordance with paragraph (c) of subsection (1).

The names and curriculum vitae of the persons nominated to be appointed as members of the Board pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (1) shall, before appointments are made, be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

The conduct and regulation of the business and affairs of the Board shall be as set out in the Second Schedule.

Except as provided in the Second Schedule, the Board may regulate its own procedure.

Where any issues of policy arise in the course o[ the performance of its functions under this Act, the Board shall refer the issue to the Cabinet Secretary.

The Board may, in the discharge of its functions under this Act, make official or impromptu visits to projects at such times, as it may deem appropriate.

A person desiring the removal of a member of the Board under subsection (1) may present a petition to the National Assembly Committee setting out the alleged facts constituting that ground.

A member sought to be removed under subsection (1) shall be given a fair hearing before a decision is made by the National Assembly Committee.

The National Assembly Committee shall, upon receiving a petition under subsection (2), consider the petition and may recommend that the member be suspended pending the outcome of the complaint.

The National Assembly Committee shall consider the petition and if it is satisfied that it discloses a ground under subsection (1), it shall make a determination that the member be removed from office and the member shall stand removed from office upon the making of that determination.

A vacancy arising as a result of the removal of a member under subsection (5) shall be filled in the manner set out in section 15 within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

There shall be a chief executive officer of the Board who shall be recruited by the Board through a competitive process and recommendations made to the Cabinet Secretary for appointment, with the approval of the National Assembly.

The chief executive officer shall subject to the directions of the Board. be responsible for the day to day management of the affairs and staff of the Board.

The chief executive officer shall serve for a period of three years renewable once.

There shall be a secretary to the Board who shall be appointed by the Board.

The secretary shall be responsible for arranging the business of the Board’s meetings, keeping records of the proceedings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as the Board may direct.

In the performance of the duties under this Act, the Secretary shall be responsible to the chief executive officer.

The Board may in the absence of the secretary appoint any member of the Board or staff of the Board to temporarily perform the functions of the secretary under subsection (2) subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Board may determine.

The Board shall appoint such officers and other staff as are necessary for the proper management of the Fund and discharge of its functions under this Act, upon such terms and conditions of service as it may determine.

The officer of the Board for each constituency shall administratively report to the Constituency Committee.

The Constituency committee shall participate in the annual appraisal of the officer of the Board seconded to the constituency based on criteria developed by the Board.

The principal management structure of the Board shall be established or varied by the Board with the approval of the Cabinet Secretary.

The expenditure for running the Board and related purposes shall be set aside at the beginning of the financial year and not more than five per centum of the total allocation to the Fund in the financial year may be used for this purpose, the annual budget of which shall be approved by the Cabinet Secretary with the concurrence of the National Assembly Committee.

The personal emoluments of Government officers working or involved in the management of the Fund shall be provided for under the recurrent expenditure of Government but any other emoluments or payments to such officers from the Fund shall be determined by the Cabinet Secretary in consultation with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

Any funding under this Act shall be for a complete project or a defined phase of a project and may include the acquisition of land and buildings.

All projects shall be projects as defined under this Act and may include costs related to studies, planning and design or other technical input for the project but shall not include recurrent costs of a facility.

Funds provided under this Act shall not be used for the purpose of supporting political bodies or political activities or for supporting religious bodies or religious activities.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), the Constituency Committee may identify a religious body or organization as an appropriate specialized agency for purposes of section 8 with regard to emergency support.

Constituency Committee office project shall be considered as a development project for purposes of the Act and may include appropriate furniture and equipment for the office.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), up to a maximum of six per centum of the total annual allocation for the constituency may be used for administration, recurrent expenses of vehicles, equipment and machinery and such use shall be listed in the Third Schedule as a project.

Projects may include the acquisition of vehicles, machinery and other equipment for the constituency.

Sports activities shall be considered as development projects for purposes of this Act but shall exclude cash awards provided that the allocation to such activities does not exceed two per centum of the total allocation of the constituency in that financial year.

Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects and capacity building of various operatives may be considered as a development project provided that not more than three per centum shall be allocated for this purpose.

Environmental activities may be considered as development projects for purposes of this Act provided that the allocation to such activities does not exceed two per centum of the total allocation of the constituency in that financial year.

Each of the projects shall be listed in the Third Schedule including the emergency item under section 8 and, where applicable, the activities under subsections (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) of this section.

Constituencies with unspent funds at the end of the financial year shall submit new proposals to the Board for approval in accordance with section 31 of this Act.

Constituencies may pool resources for joint projects provided that the decision for such joint projects shall first be approved by the Constituency Committees of each of the participating constituencies and shall be reflected on the projects listed for each of the participating constituencies.

Where constituencies have joint projects, the respective Constituency Committees shall co-ordinate the projects.

The chairperson of the Constituency Committee shall, within the first year of the commencement of a new Parliament and at least once every two years thereafter, convene open forum public meetings in every ward in the constituency to deliberate on development matters in the ward and in the constituency.

The Constituency Committee shall deliberate on project proposals from all the wards in the constituency and any other projects which the Constituency Committee considers beneficial to the constituency, including joint projects with other constituencies, consider the national development plans and policies and the constituency strategic development plan, and identify a list of priority projects, both immediate and long term, out of which the list of projects to be submitted in accordance with the Act shall be drawn from.

The list of proposed constituency based projects to be covered under this Act shall be submitted by Constituency Committee to the Board.

The list of the proposed constituency projects shall be submitted to the Board before the end of the month of February in each year or such other month as may be determined by the Cabinet Secretary in order to ensure timely inclusion of the projects in the annual Government budget of a particular financial year.

Where the Constituency Committee fails to submit the list of constituency based projects to the Board within the stipulated time in subsection (1), the list shall be deemed to have been submitted to the Board upon the lapse of the stipulated time.

The list of projects shall be submitted on a Constituency Projects Submission Form set out in the Third Schedule to this Act accompanied by minutes of the Constituency Committee approving the projects.

All projects proposed tor every constituency shall be listed in the Form together with the cost estimates, amounts allocated and amounts disbursed to such projects.

The list of projects received by the Board pursuant to section 27 shall be tabled for review at a meeting of the Board.

The Board shall scrutinize and approve for funding those project proposals that are consistent with the Act.

Where the Board does not approve a proposal submitted to it under this section, it shall refer the matter to the Constituency Committee giving reasons as to why it has declined the proposal.

The chairperson of the National Assembly Committee shall table in the National Assembly a schedule showing the ceiling for each constituency, which shall be determined in accordance with subsection (1).

The types of projects submitted for funding under this Act shall comply with the provisions of this Act.

It shall be the responsibility of the Constituency Committee to ensure that the list of projects submitted for funding comply with the provisions of the Act and their total cost does not exceed the allowable ceiling for the particular constituency or is not below that ceiling.

If the list of projects submitted for funding is in contravention of subsection (2) the same shall be referred back to the Constituency Committee for amendment and re-submission.

Whenever the amount for projects in a constituency is less than the allowable ceiling for reasons of projects being rejected in accordance with subsection (3), or for whatever reason, the shortfall shall be indicated as unallocated amount against that particular constituency on the list to be forwarded to the Cabinet Secretary.

Projects under this Act shall be implemented by the project management committee appointed in accordance with the regulations made under section 57, with the assistance of the relevant department of Government and all payments through cheques or otherwise shall be processed and effected in accordance with government regulations for the time being in force.

Where a project in a constituency involves the purchase of equipment, such equipment shall remain for the exclusive use of that constituency.

All fixed and movable assets, including equipment bought under this Act for use by the Constituency Committee shall be the property of the Board and shall be insured in the name of the Board.

No asset or equipment acquired under this section shall be disposed of without prior approval of the Board.

Any proceeds that may accrue from the disposal of any asset acquired pursuant to subsection (5) shall be credited to the account of the constituency from whose funds the asset was acquired and such funds shall be reflected and declared as part of the following year’s constituency fund for that constituency.

An accurate record of all disbursements made for projects to every constituency shall be kept and updated every month by the Board.

The disbursement of funds to the constituency fund account shall be effected at the beginning of the first quarter of each financial year with an initial amount equivalent to twenty-five per centum of the annual allocation for the constituency and thereafter the constituency fund account shall be replenished in three equal instalments at the beginning of the second, third and fourth quarters of the financial year.

The Chairperson of the Board shall submit an annual report on the activities, operations and expenditure under the Act.

At the end of every financial year the Board shall submit separate accounts of the constituencies and the Board to the Auditor-General.

Projects initiated by a community shall be eligible for support under this Act provided that such projects shall be submitted with the other projects in conformity with the requirements of this Act.

Pursuant to subsection (1), a community shall, maintain an elected committee to represent the interests of that community during and after the implementation of the project and such a committee shall conform to the requirements of this Act.

There is established a National Government Constituency Development Fund Committee for every constituency.

The seven persons referred to in subsection (2)(b), (c), (d) and (e) shall be selected in such manner and shall have such qualifications as the Board may, by Regulations, prescribe.

The names of the persons selected under subsection (3) shall be submitted by the Board to the National Assembly for approval before appointment and gazettement by the Board.

The Regulations made under subsection (3) shall be submitted to the National Assembly for approval before publication by the Board.

The first meeting of the Constituency Committee shall be convened within sixty days of the commencement of a new term of Parliament or the date of the holding of a by-election, by the national government official at the constituency or in his or her absence, by an officer of the Board Seconded to the constituency, on such day as may be designated by the Cabinet Secretary.

The quorum of the Constituency Committee shall be one half of the total membership.

The term of office of the members of the Constituency Committee shall be two years and shall be renewable but shall expire upon the appointment of a new Constituency Committee in the manner provided for in the Act, or as may be approved by the Board.

The Fund account manager seconded by the Board to the constituency shall be the custodian of all records and equipment of the constituency during the term of Parliament and during transitions occasioned by general elections or a by-election.

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the Constituency Committee by reason of resignation, incapacitation or demise of a member the vacancy shall be filled from the same category of persons where the vacancy has occurred within a period of thirty days.

The Constituency Committee shall meet at least six times in a year but the committee shall not hold more than twenty-four meetings in the same financial year, including sub-committee meetings.

The Constituency Committee shall. at its discretion, determine the quantum of instalments to various projects in the constituency, taking into account the disbursement received and the requirement of different projects.

A decision to remove a member under subsection (13) shall be made through a resolution of at least five members of the Committee and the member sought to be removed shall be given a fair hearing before the resolution is made.

A vacancy arising as a result of the removal of a member under subsection (13) shall be filled in the manner set out in subsection (10) and minutes of the meeting shall indicate the fact of the removal or appointment of a member.

On receiving a petition under subsection (1), the Board may suspend the Constituency Committee pending the outcome of the complaint.

The Board shall, consider the petition, hear all or part of the members of the committee and where it is satisfied that the petition discloses sufficient ground for dissolution, dissolve the Constituency Committee.

Vacancies arising as a result of the removal of all the members of the Constituency Committee under subsection (3) shall be filled in the manner set out in section 43 and minutes of the meeting shall indicate the fact of the removal or appointment of members.

The Constituency Committee may engage such staff as may be necessary for execution of its functions including persons with knowledge in information and communications technology, construction and basic accounting.

Staff employed under subsection (1) shall assist the Constituency Committee in project monitoring, evaluation, co-ordination and proper keeping of records and such staff shall be remunerated from the funds allocated for administration and recurrent expenses of the Constituency Committee.

The Constituency Development Fund Committee may make appropriate consultations with the relevant Government departments to ensure that cost estimates for the projects are realistic.

The Constituency Committee shall rank the projects in order of priority and whenever, in the opinion of the Board, the total cost of the projects listed exceed the ceiling for a particular constituency, then the order in which they are listed shall be taken as the order of priority for purposes of allocation of funds, provided that on-going projects shall take precedence over ail other projects.

The National Assembly shall, in accordance with its Standing Orders, establish a Select Committee on the National Government Constituencies Development Fund consisting of a chairperson and not more than eighteen other members of the National Assembly.

In determining the membership of the National Assembly Committee, the National Assembly shall ensure proportionate representation of the Parliamentary political parties.

The term of office of the members of the National Assembly Committee shall be three years renewable or upon the appointment of a new Committee in a manner provided for in this Act, whichever comes earlier.

The procedures and rules for the operations of the National Assembly Committee shall be governed by the Standing Orders of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly Committee may make reports other than the statutory report stated in sub-section 5 (d) to appraise the National Assembly on various matters relating to the Fund and to seek various approvals as required by the Act.

The National Assembly Committee shall consider the reports received from the Board under sub-section (1) and table a report to the National Assembly within 14 days of the receipt of the reports.

There is established a Constituency Oversight Committee for projects undertaken under this Act.

The Constituency Oversight Committee shall be comprised of the constituency member of the National Assembly and not more than four other members, appointed by the Member of National Assembly for the constituency in consultation with other stakeholders.

A member of the Constituency Oversight Committee may attend meetings of the Constituency Committee or its sub-committees, to ensure fair distribution of the fund.

The provisions of this Act shall be complimentary to any other development efforts by the national government or any other agency and nothing in this Act shall be taken or interpreted to mean that an area may be excluded from any other development programmes.

For the avoidance of doubt, normal Government development allocations shall continue alongside the projects funded under this Act.

All complaints and disputes by persons arising due to the administration of this Act shall be forwarded to the Board in the first instance.

Complaints of a criminal nature shall be forwarded by the Board to the relevant government agencies with prosecutorial powers.

Disputes of a civil nature shall be referred to the Board in the first instance and where necessary an arbitration panel whose costs shall be borne by the parties to the dispute, shall be appointed by consensus of the parties to consider and determine the matter before the same is referred to court.

Notwithstanding subsection (3), parties shall be at liberty to jointly appoint an arbitrator of their choice in the event of a dispute but where parties fail to jointly agree on an arbitrator, any of the parties may apply to the Cabinet Secretary to reconsider the Board’s decision and determine the matter.

Subject to this Act, no person in the management of the Fund shall be held personally liable for any lawful action taken in his official capacity or for any disputes against the Fund.

The Board may make Regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

In this section—

On the commencement day, all the funds, assets and other property both movable and immovable, which immediately before such date were vested in the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituencies Development Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013), shall by virtue of this subsection, vest in the Board.

On the commencement day, all rights, powers and liabilities, whether arising under any written law or otherwise which immediately before such day were vested in, imposed on or enforceable against the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituency Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) shall be deemed to be vested, imposed or enforceable against the Board.

Any reference in any written law or in any document or instrument to the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituency Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) shall, on and after the commencement day, be construed to be a reference to the Board.

The annual estimates of the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituency Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013), for the financial year in which the commencement day occurs shall be deemed to be the annual estimates of the Board for the remainder of that financial year.

The administrative directions made by the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituency Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) or by the Cabinet Secretary which are in force immediately before the commencement day shall, on and after such day, have force as if they were directions made by the Board or the Cabinet Secretary under this Act.

Any person who is an officer or employee of the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituency Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) immediately before the commencement date of this Act shall be an officer or employee of the Board in the same capacity and on the same terms he or she was serving before the enactment of this Act.

The members of the Constituencies Development Fund Board established under the Constituency Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) and the chief executive officer shall continue in office as members of the Board and the chief executive officer respectively until the expiry of their existing terms.

The Fund established under section 4 of this Act shall be the successor to the Constituencies Development Fund established by section 4 of the Constituencies Development Fund Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013).