Teso North Constituency Stakeholders on Tuesday vowed to support the constitution of Kenya (Amendmend) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025, on NG-CDF.
During public participation held at KNUT Hall in Amagoro, which was formally opened by Area Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Kitahi, stakeholders gave NG-CDF a clean bill of health, enumerating a myriad accrued benefits.
With the 20-year old Fund’s future looking bleak, after the High Court declared it unconstitutional and directed that it be wound up by next year, wrangles between county governments and Members of Parliament persist with divergent views on how it should be run and under which tier of government it should be domiciled characterizing public debate.
In a press conference, Mary Ekudam said they support NG-CDF, noting that it has helped the community in putting up infrastructure in institutions, including KMTC, TTI, NYS, KIHBIT, KTTC and water drilling, among other inherent benefits.
A Malaba Businessman Francis Itarukon said CDF has contributed immensely in bursary issuance to orphans and vulnerable children, purchase of buses in schools and colleges, and construction of offices for Chiefs, DOs and DCs.
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Francis Karani from Kolanya said vulnerable children can now afford education, thanks to NG-CDF bursaries, noting that if scrapped children will return home and resort to thuggery and drug and substance abuse. Concepta Onyamasi also said that since independence, the Teso North community has not had a pilot, but CDF sponsored two pilots to confirm that the fund was there to stay.
Opagala Duncan said he is among 52 students who were sponsored through NG-CDF to pursue special courses, including medicine, law, and engineering, noting that a team of lawyers and engineers have graduated.
“The two pilots have not graduated. Most of us are orphans. It would have made it impossible to pursue such lucrative careers considering that a pilot course costs Ksh 9 million per student with law ranging from Ksh250, 000 to Ksh320, 000,” Opagala said.
Bursary recipient and a form 3 student at Salvation Army Kolanya National School, Nelly Naliaka said owing to her vulnerability, she could be at home, but through CDF funding, she has remained to concentrate on her studies.
Tim Osiya said that with his advanced age, it looked impossible to secure a certificate, but he was among 200 students sponsored through CDF finding at KIHBIT in Rwatama.
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KMTC Teso Campus Principal Daniel Kirui said the semi- autonomous institution would have folded had it not been for NG-CDF, which sponsors many students to undertake various courses.
“This invaluable support can’t be taken for granted. We are hoping for continued engagement with Teso North NG-CDF, which has changed education dynamics in the region,” Kirui said.
Amagoro Assistant County Commissioner Patrick Kowon said since independence, each person has benefitted in one way or the other in bursary disbursement. Amagoro Location Chief Joel Omachar also said NG-CDF has helped them as chiefs lest they could be operating under trees, adding that it’s his prayer the fund continues in perpetuity.
Kanaz Odikor said CDF should be sustained in order to equalize education standards in the marginalized constituency.
Those from the fund present included Fund Account Manager Carolyne Wanyonyi, Constituency Office Manager Richard Opagala, and chairlady NG-CDF Mary Okwii.
MPs are being accused of using the NG-CDF for political mileage and undermining devolution, and on the other are governors accused of usurping the powers of the legislature by distributing bursaries.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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A section of Teso North follow proceedings during public participation to scrap CDF.
