MP Salasya challenges Raila to reject MPs’ bid to legalize NG-CDF
In a statement, Salasya called on Odinga to prevent the launch of public participation on the matter, scheduled for Monday, May 5.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya on Saturday, May 3, took a swipe at former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, urging him to use his growing influence within government circles to block the National Assembly’s move to amend the Constitution to entrench funds such as the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
In a statement, Salasya called on Odinga to prevent the launch of public participation on the matter, scheduled for Monday, May 5.
The vocal MP referenced Odinga’s apparent alignment with President William Ruto, suggesting it gives him enough sway to intervene.
"If Raila believes he holds real power in this country, let him prove it by halting the NG-CDF public participation next week. If he’s truly operating as another arm of government, let him act," Salasya declared.
Salasya threw down the gauntlet even as he voiced strong confidence that the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025—at the heart of the current reform push—will easily pass through Parliament.
"Like it or not, the Constitution will prevail," he declared bluntly.
"We’ll remind Raila that he’s just a regular citizen with a single vote and the majority has already decided that the NG-CDF isn’t going anywhere."
The influential legislator’s comments appear to be a direct response to Raila Odinga’s recent remarks opposing the push to enshrine the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) into the Constitution.
While addressing mourners at the funeral of Dr. Francis Ngaru in Thika on Friday, May 2, Raila criticized MPs, accusing them of plotting constitutional amendments aimed at seizing control of the NG-CDF from county governors.
Raila Odinga has warned against attempts to amend the Constitution for self-serving interests, emphasizing the importance of protecting devolution.
"The Constitution we adopted brought devolution, and that must be safeguarded," he stated.
The proposed amendment Bill, fronted by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, seeks to entrench the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the Senate Oversight Fund, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) into the Constitution.
Notably, efforts to constitutionalize the NG-CDF have faced legal hurdles, with the High Court declaring the fund illegal in 2024.
The fund was initially set up to mitigate poverty and tackle regional development disparities by allocating at least 2.5% of the national government's revenue to local projects in each constituency.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly now faces a legal challenge, after Katiba Institute and several civil society organizations moved to court to oppose the planned amendments.
Katiba Institute, in its petition, contended that the entire Bill is constitutionally redundant and that the funds it proposes to establish contradict both the intent and provisions of the Constitution.