MPs Vow To Save NG-CDF Ahead Of 2026 Deadline

Members of the National Assembly have reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) as the 2026 deadline for its cessation approaches.

During a working retreat involving the National Assembly Select Committee on NG-CDF, the NG-CDF Board, and senior management, lawmakers cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the legality of the NG-CDF Act of 2015.

The ruling stemmed from a case filed by the Senate in 2019, challenging 23 laws, including the NG-CDF Act, over claims that the National Assembly had bypassed the Senate during their enactment.

However, the Supreme Court’s seven-judge bench found that the NG-CDF Act was lawfully passed, giving fresh momentum to efforts aimed at safeguarding the Fund.

Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma, who chairs the Select Committee on NG-CDF, and former Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch, the current NG-CDF Board Chair, emphasized the Fund’s crucial role in grassroots development and citizen empowerment.

“The Fund remains a cornerstone of grassroots development, empowering constituencies to implement projects that uplift the lives of our citizens. Our discussions today will focus on key reports that reflect the progress, challenges, and future directions of the NG-CDF,” said Sirma.

The National Assembly and the NG-CDF Board have also filed an appeal against a September 20, 2024, High Court ruling that declared the Fund unconstitutional, arguing that it violates the principle of separation of powers between Parliament and the Executive.

Beyond the appeal, another initiative to safeguard the Fund is being led by the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

The committee, with technical guidance from legal experts such as Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Delegated Legislation Chairperson Samuel Chepkonga, is working on a legislative framework to secure the Fund’s future.

With slightly over a year remaining before the High Court’s 2026 deadline, lawmakers remain determined to ensure that NG-CDF continues to support development projects across constituencies.