Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata. [Photo/Nairobi News]
A Nakuru Member of County Assembly has dismissed a proposed bill seeking to introduce a Sh21.8 billion development fund for all wards.
Kabazi MCA Peter Mbae termed the Ward Equalisation Fund Bill as populist, saying it won't complement the devolved units.
"The proposal has been overtaken by events as some functions that were handled by the national government have now been devolved," Mbae said on Friday.
He said some projects that the bill is seeking funds for have been left to governors.
"It will be duplication of roles to create another fund for installation of street lights, bridges, nursery schools and rural roads because they have been devolved," the Ward rep added.
Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata, who drafted the bill, proposes that the funds to be disbursed directly from the national treasury to fund minor projects in wards.
He said if enacted, each of the 1,450 wards will receive Sh15 million annually.
"The establishment of the fund shall not prejudice other existing county funding formulae. A project funded under this law cannot be funded twice by other funds to avoid duplication and wastage of resources," Kang'ata said recently during an interview with Daily Nation.