Women MPs in black and pink protesting over Sh500 million NGAAF cut

Women Representatives in Parliament protested the government’s decision to cut Sh500 million from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), saying it will disrupt essential projects for women, youth, and vulnerable communities.

The MPs wore black and pink during Tuesday’s plenary sitting to register their displeasure and symbolically demand the funds’ reinstatement. Black, they said, represented mourning, while pink reflected NGAAF’s official colour.

Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo led the protest in Parliament, saying the cut undermines their efforts at the grassroots.

"This is deeply disheartening. Mr. Speaker, the 47 Woman Reps in this country are bleeding right now. All of them have been castrated with a blunt Burdizzo. We usually think on our feet and ahead of the curve by planning. And when you plan and somebody comes and puts a hitch, then you are left with theory but no pragmatism," she said.

The NGAAF budget was initially Sh3.2 billion before being reduced to Sh2.7 billion.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi had earlier indicated that Sh1.1 billion owed to NGAAF had been disbursed, but MPs insist the remaining funds are still insufficient.

Omanyo said women MPs cannot meet the expectations of their constituents under the reduced funding.

"The money itself is meagre, too little to begin with. We demand that the Sh500 million must find its way back to the NGAAF kitty. Mr. Speaker, how do I go to Busia and tell them I am representing them, if the money was taken while I sat here pretending to be sober?"

Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed dismissed the Treasury’s claims that Parliament made the deduction. She said MPs were being wrongly blamed for decisions made at the executive level.

"Women from 47 counties have been looked down upon. I asked the Treasury CS, and he claimed the monies were deducted in Parliament, yet it is clear they were deducted at the Treasury," she said.

Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, who chairs the 47 Women Reps Caucus, said the group will march to both NGAAF offices and the Treasury to demand full budget restoration. "We are wearing black to mourn this deduction, which is an injustice not only to us but to the people of Kenya. Pink represents the NGAAF colours,” Kagiri said.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan also criticised the cut, warning it could roll back progress on gender equality.

"It’s not fair to deny them a right that has already been granted. I want to appeal to the mandarins at Treasury to show consideration when making such decisions. Women are the majority of voters in this country. Denying them Sh500 million is not just unfair—it is politically and morally wrong," Keynan added

Budget and Appropriations Committee Chair Samuel Atandi said the committee would push for the funds' release under Article 223 of the Constitution, which allows spending in emergencies.

"As a matter of responsibility, I will meet with Treasury officials and push for the invocation of Article 223 of the Constitution to facilitate the release of the withheld funds," Atandi said.

Despite Auditor General reports showing some NGAAF funds remain unspent in various counties, MPs say the demand for social programs is high and the current budget is still not enough.

The lawmakers argue that the Sh500 million must be reinstated to avoid stalling projects like school bursaries, shelters for victims of gender violence, and youth empowerment activities.