Fate of NG-CDF Billions Now in Hands of Senators After MPs Approve Bill

By YOANA KIMWELE

The future of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) now lies with the Senate after Members of Parliament overwhelmingly passed a crucial Bill seeking to anchor the fund in law.

The Bill, which aims to address constitutional concerns raised by the Supreme Court in 2023, received bipartisan support in the National Assembly, with lawmakers insisting the fund is vital for grassroots development across Kenya’s 290 constituencies.

Speaking after the vote, several MPs stressed that NG-CDF has transformed schools, health centres, and security infrastructure in rural areas, and warned of dire consequences if the fund is discontinued.

The Senate will now have the final say on the Bill, which proposes legal safeguards to protect NG-CDF from future legal challenges. Senators are expected to begin deliberations next week.

Should the Senate approve the Bill, it will pave the way for the allocation of billions of shillings to constituencies, unlocking stalled projects and restoring faith in the fund’s future. However, should it face amendments or rejection, the political and legal debate surrounding NG-CDF is likely to intensify.

The NG-CDF has been a cornerstone of constituency-level development for nearly two decades, but its legality was questioned after the Supreme Court ruled that it violated the principle of separation of powers. The new Bill seeks to align the fund with the Constitution by redefining its structure and operations, giving it a legal lifeline amid growing public and political pressure to retain it.

Senators are expected to face intense lobbying from both sides of the divide — with governors and civil society groups urging caution, citing concerns over duplication of roles and misuse of funds.

However, MPs argue that NG-CDF is one of the few direct funding mechanisms that reaches ordinary citizens, and scrapping or weakening it would amount to a betrayal of the electorate. All eyes now turn to the Senate, where the fate of this multibillion-shilling fund will be decided.

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