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Nairobi, 25th September 2024 — The National Assembly engaged in a critical debate on Wednesday afternoon, discussing the need to entrench the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) into the Constitution. The debate was ignited by a recent High Court ruling that declared the NG-CDF Act of 2015 unconstitutional, raising concerns about the future of the fund, which has been instrumental in driving development and improving livelihoods across Kenya.
Saku MP, Hon. Dido Raso, was among the legislators who passionately defended the NG-CDF, highlighting its vital role in ensuring access to education in marginalized areas like Marsabit. He emphasized that the absence of NG-CDF would severely impact the education sector in pastoralist regions.
“Without CDF, three-quarters of the children in Marsabit today would not be attending school,” said Hon. Raso. “Without the CDF, there wouldn’t be enough schools in the pastoralist areas. What MPs have done is to think outside the box, allowing communities to settle and enabling the construction of schools. Education is the greatest equalizer.”
Raso’s comments underscore the significance of the NG-CDF in promoting educational opportunities in underserved regions, where the fund has been pivotal in building schools and supporting students. The debate highlighted widespread concern among MPs that without constitutional protection, the NG-CDF’s future could be jeopardized, potentially leading to setbacks in development, particularly in vulnerable communities.
As the National Assembly continues to deliberate on the matter, there is a strong push to secure the future of the NG-CDF by embedding it in the Constitution, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s development strategy.
