Residents from Laikipia West Constituency have backed the proposed entrenchment of NG-CDF kitty into the constitution and even recommended that the allocations of the funds be increased to enhance its impact at the grassroots level.
They told the senate committee during the third day of public participation on constitution of Kenya (Amendment) 2025 in Nyahururu town that the National Government Constituency Fund (NG- CF) The Senate Oversight Fund (SOF) and The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) were key development drivers in the county.
Moses Kipkeboi, a school principal representing schools praised the NG-CDF for its support in construction of schools’ infrastructure such as classrooms, laboratories, a burden that he said would be cascaded to parents.
Teachers also urged the NG-CDF to expand its area of coverage to include the Junior Secondary Schools in construction of infrastructure as well as offering of bursaries for the junior learners.
In support of proposal, the National Government Administrative officers (NGAO) particularly the chiefs and their assistants hailed the NG-CDF for enhancing modernization of their offices in the locations.
Jane Muturi, Chief Muhotetu location noted that prior to the fund the offices were dilapidated and were unable to hold suspects within their premises and in some cases they easily broke out and escaped from custody.
Business community and boda boda operators on the other hand, back the move saying most the sheds in the area were established through the funds
Parents and guardians who represented the biggest number mostly from local community for its support in allocation of bursaries to the children who would otherwise have missed the opportunity to study.
Esther Wairimu, a resident at Kwa Maina village said if it were not for the fund, orphaned children and those of single mothers among other needy cases would have missed out on education.
Nyahururu Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Bernard Odinoh said the views collected were crucial for the retention of the funds since a court had ruled that it will cease to exist by July 2026 unless parliament approved the recommendations to the contrary.
However, Odinoh noted that once the NG-CDF was entrenched in the Constitution it would be hard to remove it from the Constitution.
Clerk Assistant, National Assembly, Philip Lekarkar, who led the team from Parliament appreciated the residents for their views adding that every view was captured and will be presented to Parliament for deliberation
Lekarkar further urged the residents who felt the Parliament should have included the one-man-one-shilling clause in the bill that they could liaise with their MPs to table the bill in Parliament for discussion.
He said after National Assembly discusses and passes the bill, it will head to the Senate and if it passes will be taken to President for assent into law.
By Eunice Wanjiru and Ann Nekesa
