Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has called on the State to strengthen oversight of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) committees.
Kaluma expressed concern that some officials may prioritise certain projects in ways that do not maximise benefits for local communities.
He highlighted that in some cases, the purchase of school buses can be costly, affecting the availability of funds for other projects such as infrastructure development.
“Sometimes, NG-CDF funds are used to buy buses where prices may be higher than necessary. It is more cost-effective to purchase directly from the manufacturer and redirect savings to other critical projects,” Kaluma said.
The legislator emphasised that his focus is on ensuring that classrooms and laboratories are prioritised.
He added that buses should be considered for schools with substantial student populations or where they are needed for co-curricular activities and competitions.
Speaking during the handover of two school buses to Ogande Mixed Senior School and Wiga Secondary School, Kaluma noted that each bus cost Sh9 million.
He encouraged parents to support local schools to increase student enrollment and make such initiatives sustainable.
Kaluma also referenced ongoing legal discussions regarding the NG-CDF.
MPs are awaiting a Court of Appeal ruling on the fund’s constitutionality, following a High Court decision that deemed certain practices illegal.
Meanwhile, MPs have sought public input on embedding the fund in the constitution.
Ogande Mixed Senior School Principal Linnet Olonde welcomed the donation, noting that the school previously faced challenges in securing buses for academic trips and co-curricular activities due to high rental costs.
“We sometimes miss opportunities for field trips because hiring buses is expensive. Having our own bus will help us participate more actively,” she said.
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