The National Assembly has unanimously passed a landmark constitutional amendment Bill that seeks to embed three key development funds, the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), and the Senate Oversight Fund (SOF), into the Constitution.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed with overwhelming support, garnering 304 votes during the Second Reading and 298 during the Third Reading, with no opposition recorded in either vote.
Co-sponsored by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, the Bill was introduced on March 12, 2025, and referred to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) for public participation. The committee, after conducting hearings across all 290 constituencies, reported on June 17 that 98.4% of Kenyans supported the proposal.
JLAC Vice Chair Prof. Guyo Jaldesa (Moyale) hailed the nationwide support, stating, “The people have spoken.”
The proposed amendment aims to provide constitutional protection and legal certainty to the three funds. The NG-CDF supports grassroots development in education and infrastructure, NGAAF targets vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities, while the SOF is designed to bolster Senate oversight over county governments.
Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah described NG-CDF as “the most impactful fund at the community level,” emphasizing its role in complementing county governments in delivering services like education and social support.
Lawmakers across the political divide praised the funds for their transformative role. Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi underscored the Fund’s role in educational advancement, while Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu noted that over 280 students in his constituency benefit from full scholarships annually.
Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed recounted the growth of secondary schools in his region thanks to NG-CDF, and Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap lauded the fund for reducing reliance on harambees for community infrastructure.
In a moving testimony, Molo MP Kuria Kimani credited NG-CDF for enabling his secondary education, calling himself “a living testimony” to the fund’s impact.
Having achieved the required two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, the Bill now proceeds to the Senate for debate and approval. If passed, it will mark a significant shift in Kenya’s development financing framework by giving constitutional backing to the three funds.
Written By Rodney Mbua
