Manyatta Member of Parliament (MP) Gitonga Mukunji has cautioned that scrapping the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) would severely undermine the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and ultimately stall essential development projects at grassroots level.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station today, Mukunji said the NG-CDF has played a key role in bridging infrastructure gaps in education, particularly in junior secondary schools, where laboratories and learning facilities have been established using the fund.
“The CBC model depends heavily on infrastructure, and NG-CDF has stepped in where national allocations fall short,” Mukunji said. “Without it, many schools would still be waiting for basic learning tools.”
He revealed that in Manyatta Constituency, all junior secondary schools have been equipped with laboratory facilities through NG-CDF allocations, projects that, in his view, would have taken years to materialise under conventional government channels.
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Mukunji argued that while constitutional alignment of NG-CDF is necessary, abolishing the fund altogether would disadvantage the learners and communities relying on it for education and development support. “We should be strengthening what works, not dismantling it,” he said.
Mukunji’s remarks come amid intensifying debate over the future of NG-CDF, with some legal experts and critics calling for its abolition on constitutional grounds, while supporters maintain it remains a vital tool for local development.
Mukunji defended the fund’s relevance, saying it complements national government efforts and accelerates service delivery in areas that would otherwise be neglected. “Some of the projects NG-CDF has delivered would still be on paper if we waited for central government funding,” he noted.
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He also highlighted NG-CDF’s role in supporting CBC’s practical learning approach, which requires specialised facilities such as science labs, workshops, and digital classrooms. “CBC is not just about curriculum, it’s about the environment in which learners are nurtured. NG-CDF has made that possible,” he added.
While acknowledging the need for reforms to ensure transparency and constitutional compliance, Mukunji urged policymakers to consider the fund’s impact before making drastic changes. “Let’s fix what needs fixing, but don’t throw away a tool that’s helping millions,” he said.
Some education stakeholders have echoed similar sentiments, warning that removing NG-CDF could slow down CBC implementation and widen inequality in access to quality learning environments.
By Masaki Enock
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