NAIROBI — Kenya’s National Assembly has unanimously passed a constitutional amendment bill that seeks to entrench three key development funds into the Constitution: the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the Senate Oversight Fund (SOF), and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
In a decisive show of support, 304 lawmakers backed the bill at the Second Reading, and 298 approved it during the Third Reading clearing the two-thirds constitutional threshold required for such amendments.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was tabled in March by MPs Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi). It was referred to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), which then carried out a comprehensive round of public consultations across all 290 constituencies.
According to the committee’s findings, over 98 percent of submissions supported the proposal. “A staggering 98.4 percent of Kenyans support the entrenchment of these Funds. The people have spoken,” said JLAC Vice Chair Prof. Guyo Jaldesa.
The proposed constitutional change aims to give legal certainty to the NG-CDF, SOF, and NGAAF, shielding them from legal and political interference. The NG-CDF supports grassroots development projects, especially in education and local infrastructure. The SOF is designed to strengthen the Senate’s oversight over counties, while NGAAF addresses the needs of vulnerable groups women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah described NG-CDF as “the most impactful fund at the community level,” adding that it complements county budgets. “These funds have enabled the national government to fulfil obligations in education, security, and social welfare. They are practical examples of service delivery at the grassroots,” he said.
MPs across political lines echoed these sentiments. Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi pointed to the critical role NG-CDF has played in education infrastructure. “There are doctors, magistrates, teachers, and engineers who owe their education to this fund. CBC demands more laboratories and classrooms we cannot abandon NG-CDF now,” she said.
Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti) gave a breakdown from his own constituency. “Over 280 students receive full scholarships through NG-CDF every year. The impact is visible in every ward,” he said.
Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed noted that the fund had helped address historic imbalances. “Before NG-CDF, my constituency had just three secondary schools. Today we have 12, with plans for more. County allocations haven’t delivered comparable results,” he said.
Baringo North’s Joseph Makilap highlighted the relief NG-CDF has brought to local communities. “We’ve built classrooms and offices without a single fundraiser. This fund delivers value to our people,” he said.
Molo MP Kuria Kimani gave a personal reflection, crediting NG-CDF for his own education. “If not for NG-CDF, I would never have gone to high school. I am living proof of its value,” he said.
The Bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration. If approved there, the amendment will secure the constitutional protection of the three funds, ensuring their continuity in supporting development and oversight at all levels of government.
