The National Taxpayers Association (NTA) has officially launched a report of Constituency Development Funds in Shinyalu Constituency in Kakamega County.

NTA a National, Independent, Non- partism and Non- governmental Organization on 25^th July 2012 outlined clearly to residents that their objective is to promote accountability, effective and efficient collection and utilization of public service funds and also keep an eye on how leaders chaired by the Member of Parliament distribute resources to Kenyans.

The Programme Officer and Regional Offices Coordinator Mr. Martin Napisa urged the community at large to work hand in hand with the area Member of Parliament Mr. Justus Kizito in order to improve Shinyalu.

He informed the residents that they have a responsibility of visiting Governmental Offices to express their views and opinions and report corruption scandals as the constitution allows freedom of expression

The MP and CDF Board were acknowledged by NTA for being co-operative in provision of information supporting documents and feedback on the draft report.

“Reception of the NTA process was good demonstrating transparency and accountability in Shinyalu”, he said.

In the absence of the Member of Parliament Mr. Justus Kizito who was away in Nairobi for a government function, the Ward Councilor who is also an Official of the Committee of CDF Mr. Levy Lilechi called upon citizens of Shinyalu and all Kenyans at large to be attending NTA report launching because through the reports they will be able to know a lot on how funds are spent in their constituencies.

Lilechi also criticized some of the leaders especially MPs who dodge from attending such occasions, he said, after the report has been launched the various stakeholders in government will be able to work hard towards improving some areas that are not complete.

Shinyalu constituency was rated second in good utilization of the Constuencey Development Funds in Kakamega County after Butere constituency.

Lilechi revealed that in terms of infrastructure their committee had done a lot, education sector has been improved through setting up of Youth Polytechnics and more buildings set up in both primary and secondary schools to reduce congestion.

He observed that there is a problem in the sector of electricity but promised that electricity will be supplied everywhere before the coming General Election.

The NTA report outlined that a notification for the audit of the constituency was sent to Justus Kizito, copied to the CEO of the CDF board on  February 7,  2011 and it covers  2009/2010 financial year.

The NTA has not yet researched the 2010/11 financial year since much of the funds have not been spent to date, monitoring of the exercise was conducted between April 2011 and February 2012, NTA completed field research and technical assessment in Shinyalu constituency in November 2011.

A draft report was produced and sent to the CDF committee and Member of Parliament for comments and feedback on  November 15,  2011. A meeting was subsequently held with the CDF committee on January 19,  2012, during which consultations were held, comments and supporting documents were produced.

A summary of total funds allocated to Shinyalu was KShs. 287,693,822 allocated to the Constituency since the 2003/2004, KShs. 6, 815, 00 of taxpayers money has been wasted on badly implemented projects, while KShs. 600,000; of taxpayers money is unaccounted for.

Perception survey for CDF projects monitored in Shinyalu Constituency for, financial year 2009-2010, 95% of the correspondents who are the residents knows how the project were identified while 5 % lack knowledge, 87% of the respondents said women were involved while 13% denied women were involved, 58% appreciated that the disabled were involved while 42% said they were not included, 80% of the correspondents said the youth were fully involved in the projects while 20% opposed.

Some of the projects that have been put in place include Shidodo Secondary School in Khayega where two classrooms were constructed which are complete and even in use, Liranda Shisasari Road Project which is complete and in use.

There are some projects that do not exist and they include; Mugomari Secondary School completion of a laboratory installing shelves and painting where it is documented that the Institution received 500,000 but it is not clear what the funds were used for and the Head Teacher and the PMC should account for the cash that was received.