Kiharu: Kiharu Member of Parliament (MP) Ndindi Nyoro has come out strongly in defended the retention of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), insisting it remains one of the most effective ways to channel resources directly to the grassroots.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyoro, speaking at St. Mary's Primary School in Murang'a during the commissioning of CDF-funded projects, argued that rather than debating whether the fund should continue to exist, the national conversation should focus on how to expand its allocation to better serve communities.
'Kenya is still building its foundation as a developing country. NG-CDF ensures that money goes straight to the people through projects they can see and benefit from. The issue should not be whether to keep it, but how to increase it,' he observed.
The legislator noted that NG-CDF has financed crucial initiatives such as school infrastructure, bursaries for needy learners, and local security projects. According to him, the fund has become indispensable to parents and communities who often rely on it to bridge gaps left by the national budget.
Nyoro acknowledged that bursaries distributed through NG-CDF remain essential, but he stressed that their necessity is a reflection of the fact that education in Kenya is not yet entirely free. He urged the government to raise secondary school capitation from Sh 22,000 to KSh 32,000 per student annually to ease financial strain on households.
'If the government increases capitation to cover the full cost of learning, bursaries may no longer be necessary. Until then, NG-CDF fills a critical gap for thousands of families,' he explained.
The Kiharu MP further called for efficiency in the distribution of bursaries, saying that whether managed through NG-CDF or a centralized system, the process should remain transparent and equitable so as to lighten the burden on parents struggling to educate their children.
Nyoro's defense of the fund comes amid fresh calls by some leaders, including opposition Chief Raila Odinga, to reconsider the future of NG-CDF. However, Nyoro maintained that scrapping it would deny Kenyans a lifeline, especially in rural constituencies where government presence is often limited to NG-CDF projects.
'CDF projects are visible in every constituency. They build classrooms, improve roads, and support security. Removing the fund would be turning our backs on the people who rely on these investments,' he said.
He also pointed out that investing more in NG-CDF would complement government efforts in achieving development goals such as improved education access, poverty reduction, and infrastructure growth. Nyoro's remarks reinforced the broader government commitment to expanding opportunities for young people through education and skills development.
He insisted that for a developing country like Kenya, grassroots-focused funds such as NG-CDF remain vital in ensuring equitable distribution of national resources.
By Bernard Munyao and Catherine Kamunyo