Residents from Laikipia East constituency have voiced support for the proposed entrenchment of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) in the constitution to enhance service delivery at the grassroots.
During a well-attended public participation exercise on the constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No. 4 of 2025 held at the Laikipia East CDF Hall in Nanyuki town, speakers narrated how the fund has had a big impact on transforming the lives of the constituents.
Rose Wanjohi, head teacher at Mt. Kenya Primary School, said the institution had gotten a total facelift, from mud-walled classrooms to brick ones and paved pathways.
“This transformation has led to increased enrollment at the school since it is modern and attractive to learners. A new laboratory for the junior secondary learners and a staffroom block are also underway courtesy of CDF,” Ms. Wanjohi said.
Thingithu Secondary School Principal Sammy Githongo said that CDF bursaries had seen many students from humble backgrounds go through their education unhindered until completion. “Most of the students in my school would not have enrolled were it not for the assistance they received from CDF,” he added.
Martha Mwangi, a grocery seller in Nanyuki town, heaped praises on the fund and also called for its enhancement, narrating how she had managed to secure bursaries for her two children, one who is studying at a local university while the younger one is in secondary school.
“Anybody thinking of scrapping CDF should know that the fund has had a big impact on the villages, especially where single mothers like me with little or no income have seen their children go through education; in fact, it should be enhanced,” Ms. Mwangi said.
Laikipia Central Deputy County Commissioner John Marete noted how CDF had played a big role in improving security through the construction of police posts and chiefs’ offices in the area.
“We have new chief’s offices in Mwituria and Wiyumiririe locations and a host of new police posts in the area that have seen the overall security greatly improved. As we make our submissions, let us also look at how we have benefitted from CDF as a community,” Marete said.
Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri observed that the county had lagged in terms of development, and therefore the CDF and the Affirmative Action Fund had played a key role in uplifting the lives of locals and service delivery.
“We cannot compare ourselves to some of our neighbouring counties in terms of development since they are way ahead; the most logical thing is to have these funds enhanced for the marginalized areas such as our county,” she said.
A section of constitutional and legal experts feels that the CDF and the Affirmative Action Funds should be channeled to the devolved units and should not be under the patronage of Members of Parliament, since their mandate is legislation and oversight of the executive and not that of project implementation.
By Martin Munyi
