National Assembly passes Bill to anchor NG-CDF, NGAAF, SOF in Constitution, paves way for Senate review
The Bill was passed unanimously, with 304 MPs voting in favour during the Second Reading and 298 supporting it at the Third Reading, with no single vote against.
The National Assembly has approved a Bill seeking to embed three key funds into the Constitution, a move designed to ensure legal protection and promote long-term grassroots development nationwide.
The legislators hailed the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund (SOF) as essential tools for bridging inequality and improving education, infrastructure, and oversight at the local level.
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The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed unanimously, with 304 MPs voting in favour during the Second Reading and 298 supporting it at the Third Reading, with no single vote against.
The Bill, co-sponsored by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, was introduced in the House on March 12, 2025. It was then referred to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC), which conducted nationwide public participation in all 290 constituencies.
The committee tabled its report on June 17, showing that more than 98 per cent of the submissions supported the constitutional amendment.
Constitutional status
The proposed changes seek to give constitutional status and legal certainty to the three Funds. The NG-CDF is aimed at improving access to national government services at the constituency level, particularly in education and infrastructure.
The Senate Oversight Fund is designed to enhance the Senate’s role in monitoring county government operations, while NGAAF supports the empowerment of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah welcomed the approval of the Bill, describing NG-CDF as the “most impactful” fund at the grassroots.
“These funds have enabled the national government to fulfil its obligations in education, security and social support. They are a practical example of service delivery at the grassroots,” he said.
MPs across the political divide also backed the amendment, citing personal testimonies and development milestones in their constituencies.
The Bill's co-sponsor, Otiende Amollo, defended its consistency with the Constitution.
“This amendment distinguishes between devolution and decentralisation and seeks to complement the spirit of equitable development envisioned in our Constitution,” he said.
Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi noted the transformative power of NG-CDF in education and infrastructure.
“There are doctors, magistrates, teachers and engineers who owe their education to this Fund. We cannot think of abandoning it just as the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) demands new infrastructure like laboratories,” she said.
Changed lives
Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu said the fund had changed lives in his constituency.
“In my area, over 280 students receive full scholarships annually through NG-CDF. You can see the Fund’s tangible impact in every corner,” he noted.
Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed cited the development gaps bridged by the NG-CDF.
“Before NG-CDF, we had only three secondary schools in my constituency. Today, we have 12, with plans for more. County allocations have not delivered comparable results,” Dekow said.
Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap said the fund had eliminated the need for community fundraising for school projects.
“Since I became an MP, we’ve built classrooms and offices without a single fundraiser. NG-CDF is the only Fund delivering real value to our people,” he said.
Molo MP Kuria Kimani emphasised the importance of the NG-CDF as a former beneficiary.
“Were it not for NG-CDF, I would never have set foot in a high school. I am a living testimony to its impact,” he said.
With the Bill having surpassed the constitutional two-thirds majority requirement in the National Assembly, it now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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