Members of Parliament have intensified their push to protect the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and other grassroots funds from legal and administrative threats, launching a countrywide public participation campaign aimed at enshrining them in the Constitution.
In a rare show of bipartisan unity, lawmakers have expressed outrage over persistent delays in disbursing funds, accusing the National Treasury of withholding critical resources meant for development projects in constituencies.
Last week, they demanded the immediate release of Sh21 billion, part of the outstanding Sh33 billion, following revelations by Treasury CS John Mbadi that only Sh7 billion had been released, with a similar amount pledged by month-end.
Now, MPs are going a step further by seeking constitutional protection for three major funds: the NG-CDF, the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the proposed Senate Oversight Fund.
A notice published on Tuesday announced the start of a public participation exercise from May 5 to 7 across all 290 constituencies and 47 county women representatives’ offices.
The campaign, led by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, is anchored in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025—a proposal aimed at sealing legal loopholes and safeguarding MPs’ influence at the grassroots.
“The process will be as transparent as possible,” said National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge, who confirmed that parliamentary officers would assist members of the public in submitting feedback using simplified forms available in both English and Kiswahili.
However, legal experts have cast doubt on the constitutionality of the move.
Evans Ogada, a constitutional lawyer, warned that enshrining the NG-CDF in the Constitution could violate the doctrine of separation of powers. “There’s already a High Court ruling declaring the fund unconstitutional.
Allowing MPs to preside over public funds blurs the line between the Executive and Legislature,” he said.
Willis Otieno, a public law and governance expert, echoed this sentiment, arguing that such an amendment would require a referendum, especially considering the fund’s implications on the country’s devolved system of governance.
Despite mounting legal hurdles, lawmakers remain adamant that they will fight to keep NG-CDF alive.
“This is not just about money—it’s about service delivery to the people who elected us,” said one MP who supports the amendment.
