Rural districts to get more funding

By HELEN TARAWA
Department of Implementation and Rural Development is working on an equalisation programme which will address the distribution of funds to least-developed districts, says acting-Secretary Aihi Vaki.
He said the least-developed districts should get more funding than urban districts.
“That is the policy we have developed for the last five years,” Vaki said.
“We are to revisit this and get it to Cabinet to look at it.
“That can be a fair way of distributing SIP (services improvement programme) funds, and something we have to work on and get it to cabinet.
“We have made a submission.
“We need to revive that as well to get the constitutional grants to be put together from non-discretion to make it as discretion component of K500,000 to put together.
“That’s subject to Organic Law section 95 (a) and (b) that needs to go to Parliament to be amended.
“K10 million can make a big difference in the electorates and it’s all about good leadership and administration.
“The leaders are there to make polices, we are the ones to implement.”
Vaki said starting this year, all SIP funds amounting to
K1.2 billion would be disbursed from DIRD.
He said the challenge now was for the districts to step up, work in a timely manner and ensure their acquittal reports were submitted.
“We will be flexible to understand your problems whenever there are contract obligations,” Vaki said.
“We will take them on board and be considerate in ensuring that the funds would be released, based on genuine reasons.
“The reports need to come in for those who do not submit their reports.
“Their funds will be retained until the acquittals are submitted.
“Do not procrastinate.
“Don’t bring reports after two or three years.
“By then, something would have gone missing.
“That is the advice to all 111 electorates: The department is here for you all, I will work closely with the administrators.
“Please feel free to come to this office so we work together.”