Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has come out strongly against any efforts to abolish the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), emphasizing its critical role in grassroots development and the delivery of services across the country.

Speaking at Mercy Njeri Secondary School in Rongai during the launch of a new school bus, Kihika praised the NG-CDF for directly impacting communities and bridging development gaps often left unaddressed by county budgets.

“I am firmly opposed to any attempt to scrap the NG-CDF. It has been instrumental in transforming lives at the grassroots,” she stated.

Her remarks come shortly after the National Assembly overwhelmingly passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to formally entrench the NG-CDF, the Senate Oversight Fund (SOF), and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) into the Constitution.

The bill sponsored by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga received overwhelming support, with 304 MPs backing it during the second reading and 298 during the third. Public participation on the bill saw over 98 percent of submissions in favor of the amendments.

Currently, the NG-CDF allocates Ksh54.7 billion annually to constituencies, supporting initiatives such as bursaries, school infrastructure, and other local development projects. Lawmakers argue the fund is not in conflict with devolved functions but complements county efforts, particularly in areas like education where counties face legal limits.

“Counties are legally barred from issuing bursaries, which makes NG-CDF an essential bridge in funding education,” MP Amollo noted. His sentiments were echoed by Tharaka MP George Murugara, who said the fund strengthens not duplicates development at the grassroots.

Governor Kihika cited Rongai as a success story, noting that over 4,000 students in the constituency had benefited from bursaries totaling Ksh27 million.

She highlighted additional projects driven through partnerships between the county and national government, including a successful ECDE feeding program that has boosted school enrolment, solar-powered boreholes, road rehabilitation efforts, and the ongoing construction of Kamugei Water Project and Rongai Sub-County Hospital, which is currently 33 percent complete.

Despite the widespread political support, some civil society organizations, including the Katiba Institute, have raised concerns over the constitutionality of the fund, warning of potential legal hurdles as the bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Still, proponents argue the NG-CDF remains a vital development tool, especially in marginalized regions, and that anchoring it in the Constitution will safeguard its long-term sustainability.