The government has released Ksh32.3 billion to the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) Board for distribution to constituencies across the country, part of the Ksh58.7 billion allocated for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Speaking in Nambale during the commissioning of a new storey tuition and administration block at Sierra Girls Senior School, the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Economic Planning, Boniface Makokha, said the fund is being prudently utilised to transform communities.
Makokha emphasized that scrapping the NG-CDF would deny constituents ongoing development, particularly in areas such as school infrastructure and learner support through bursaries and scholarships.
NG-CDF Board Director Naomi Shiyonga added that the board would fast-track approval of project proposals submitted by constituency committees to accelerate local development initiatives.
Meanwhile, NG-CDF Board CEO Yusuf Mbuno, who accompanied the PS, praised the government for progressively increasing the fund’s allocation from Ksh1.2 billion in 2003 to the current Ksh58.7 billion. He noted that funds are now released in a timely manner, with about 55 percent of the allocation already disbursed halfway through the financial year.
ALSO READ;
Hulugho teachers protest at TSC offices after colleague killed in Al-Shabaab attack
Mbuno highlighted the role of the fund in enabling large-scale projects that could not have been financed through traditional fundraisers.
“This storey tuition and administration block at Sierra Girls Senior School, constructed at a cost of Ksh22 million, could not have been realised through fundraising alone,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the Court of Appeal will allow the fund to continue operating, citing its significant impact on community development.
The statement comes amid ongoing legal proceedings. In September 2024, the High Court declared the NG-CDF Act, 2015 (including amendments in 2022 and 2023) unconstitutional, ruling that it violated several principles of the Constitution, including separation of powers and devolution.
The court found that the Act gave Members of Parliament powers conflicting with the structure and functions of devolved government and ordered that the NG-CDF should cease operations by 30 June 2026 unless the ruling is overturned.
The National Assembly has since appealed the High Court decision to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the fund is constitutional and plays a critical role in community development.
By Obegi Malack
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
