While addressing journalists in Athi river town on November 18, 2015, Athi River MCA Michael Mutua called on the county government of Machakos to allocate more funds to the wards.
He also wanted ward development funds to be managed by MCAs. But because MCAs already have an oversight role on the funds, the constitution bars them from managing the funds.
Machakos county ward development fund bill was amended in 2015 to be in line with the constitution.The bill says that there shall be a ward development fund committee whose members shall serve for 3 years, renewable once.
The committee,in liaison with local leaders in the ward and county government officers responsible for ward, should convene annual public meetings to discuss and deliberate on development matters in the ward.
The bill aims at ensuring the ward development fund is fully and efficiently utilized. Ward development fund, if properly used, will spur economic growth in wards.