Lugari: A section of Lugari constituency residents have unanimously endorsed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025). The bill seeks to amend the Constitution and to formally entrench the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund.
According to Kenya News Agency, the residents, led by area Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera, expressed that the NG-CDF has been crucial for grassroots development since its inception and should not be scrapped. This endorsement was made during a public participation forum on the bill at Matete sports grounds. Nabwera, who advocated for the entrenchment of the fund in the constitution, urged his constituents to support the Bill, highlighting its role in developing school infrastructure and supporting students from needy backgrounds.
Nabwera criticized governors advocating for the funds to be disbursed through the counties, describing them as anti-development. He used an analogy to emphasize his point, questioning the logic of shifting fund management to entities that have not demonstrated effective use of existing allocations. The legislator described the proposal to eliminate the NG-CDF as a political move intended to maintain poverty among disadvantaged populations.
Participants at the forum praised the NG-CDF for its benefits. Chevaywa location Chief Alex Goricho shared his support, noting his office’s improvements due to the fund. He suggested that the national government should consider increasing the fund’s allocation from 2.5 percent to 5 percent. Pastor Johnstone Juma highlighted the fund’s role in providing educational opportunities to children from poor backgrounds, enabling them to compete on equal footing with their wealthier peers.
Sarah Naswa emphasized the widespread impact of the NG-CDF in the constituency and expressed her full support for its constitutional entrenchment. Enock Keya, Chair of the Matete Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), also backed the amendment, citing significant improvements at Mahanga Secondary School due to the fund, including new classrooms, a library, and a dormitory, with further land expansion planned.
The future of the 20-year-old fund remains uncertain following a High Court ruling declaring it unconstitutional, with directions for its dissolution by next year. Disagreements between governors and legislators continue, with differing opinions on the fund’s management and governmental tier placement.