Nairobi Senator Edwin W. Sifuna has criticised the implementation of the Equalisation Fund, accusing the government of neglecting marginalized regions while failing to uphold the spirit of the Constitution.
In a strongly worded statement, Sifuna said the fund, established to uplift historically underserved areas, had fallen short of its mandate. “The Equalisation Fund was intended to raise the standard of services in marginalized areas to match those enjoyed across the rest of the country,” he said.
He pointed to what he described as a contradiction within government leadership, arguing that those currently in power had previously opposed the Constitution they are now required to implement. “One of the greatest ironies is that the person in power is tasked with implementing a Constitution they never believed in and actively opposed,” Sifuna added.
The senator also suggested that recent political developments had triggered renewed attention to regions such as North Eastern, Western, and Nyanza, which he said have long been sidelined. “Now, following a certain political fallout, they seem to have suddenly remembered the existence of North Eastern, Western, and Nyanza regions,” he said.
As scrutiny over the fund grows, reports have also emerged alleging that some leaders from marginalized areas have diverted resources meant for development into private use, with claims that portions of the funds have been invested in properties and businesses in Nairobi instead of benefiting local communities.
Sifuna, who also serves as Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement, linked the issue to the opposition’s broader political agenda under the Linda Mwananchi movement.
He said that should the alliance take power, transparency in public spending would be a central priority. “When Linda Mwananchi forms government, one of our key commitments will be to publish a clear account of how national government resources have been allocated and utilized in every county,” he said.
“Our goal is to put the country back on a firm foundation of values because once those are restored, everything else will fall into place,” he added.
The remarks come amid growing scrutiny over the management of public funds and persistent inequalities in access to basic services across counties, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions that were the primary targets of the Equalisation Fund.
