By ERIC OLOO
Posted Sunday, April 11 2010 at 21:00

Politicians and CDF officials from Nyanza have dismissed a recent report on alleged misuse of funds.

The Rarieda CDF team was accused by the National Taxpayers Association of misappropriating over Sh2 million, but MP Nicholas Gumbo said all the projects funded by Constituency Development Fund money under his watch had been completed to satisfaction.

However, Mr Gumbo said an electrification project at the Madiany District Hospital had to be stopped because the contractor had done a shoddy job.

“I personally ordered that the Madiany project be stopped because the contractor had done a poor job,” he said, adding that the money for the project was intact.

Predecessor

The MP said most of the projects perceived to have stalled were initiated by his predecessor.

According to some sources, the stalled projects were initiated by former MP Raphael Tuju, but when Mr Gumbo took over, the new CDF team neglected them for new ones. The legislator said some projects had been completed while others were being worked on.

In Dr Oburu Oginga’s Bondo, CDF coordinator Mark Oyath said proposed projects were funded and completed.

He said the fencing and purchasing of pumping equipment for irrigation in Central Yimbo had been finalised.

The Ministry of Irrigation, he said, was supervising the project.

Mr Oyath clarified that the installation of an oven at the Nyang’oma Children’s Home was delayed due to hitches in procurement.

And in Otuoma, where Sh400,000 had been allocated to build two classrooms, Mr Oyath said the school’s head teacher instead used the funds to build four classrooms.

“But we are planning to allocate the school funds to complete the remaining classrooms,” he said.

Mr Oyath said the construction of a hall at Wambasa Girls’ Secondary School was complete.

“The Wambasa project is complete and what is currently going on is the final painting,” he said.

However, Mr Oyath said the construction of a sports centre at South Sakwa could not proceed because football goal posts erected at Sh50,000 were stolen.

The coordinator asked how the National Taxpayers Association came up with the report without involving the CDF office.

In Gem, which is represented by Mr Jakoyo Midiwo, similar sentiments were expressed by the CDF manager, Mr Joseph Kawuor.

More funds

Mr Kawuor dismissed reports that Sh300,000 meant for the construction of Nyabeda Secondary School could not be traced.

Instead, he said Sh600,000 had been allocated to the school, adding that more funds would be disbursed in the next financial year.

He urged the National Taxpayers Association to verify facts first.

Source