MPs in push to raise NGCDF by Sh3bn starting July

This is contained in proposals tabled in Parliament, which, if approved, will see the fund run by lawmakers get more billions.

"I propose an increase in the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) allocation from the proposed Sh58.8 billion to at least Sh61.8 billion to comply with the NG-CDF Act, 2015, which requires a minimum allocation of 2.5 percent of the National government’s share of revenue," stated Kuria Kimani, the chair of the committee when he appeared before the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC).

Mr Kuria was presenting submissions for the 2026 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).

“The current proposed funding falls short of the statutory allocation of Sh3 billion and risks disrupting projects, bursary programmes and constituency-level development initiatives,” he added. 

The proposed Sh61.8 billion will be an increase from Sh58.7 billion set aside for NGCDF in the 2025/2026 financial year. In the 2024/2025 financial year, the kitty was allocated Sh54.7billion.

The amount allocated to the fund has been increasing steadily, from Sh1.3 billion in 2003.

The Nation has learnt that MPs are rooting for the increase of allocations for the kitty to enable them complete key projects in various constituencies ahead of the 2027 General Election.

On Monday, a section of MPs supported the push to increase the funds.

"The increase in allocation is essential for grassroots development. We need more funds for infrastructure development, bursaries among other things. The money is vital for service delivery at the local level," said  Kuresoi South MP Joseph Tonui. 

Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama said: "We need more funds in the NGCDF, to address shortages in school infrastructure, issue bursaries and initiate other key community based projects." 

The sentiments were echoed by Ruiru MP Simon Kingara.

Even as the country clamours for the amalgamation of all bursaries as a gateway to the implementation of free education, MPs have instead been pushing for more funds in the NGCDF.

Court decision 

Currently, NGCDF still largely comprises an annual budgetary allocation equivalent to at least 2.5 percent of all national government share of revenue as provided for in the Division of Revenue Act.

On February 6, 2026, the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court decision that invalidated the entire NGCDF Act, 2015, holding that the trial court erred in both its constitutional analysis and the remedies it granted.

The earlier High Court decision had declared the NGCDF unconstitutional and the kitty was to cease operating in June 2026.

The verdict cleared the way for continued disbursement of billions of shillings annually to constituencies for projects such as classrooms, bursaries and local security facilities.

The judgment delivered by Court of Appeal President Justice Daniel K Musinga, Justice Francis Tuiyott, and Justice Aggrey Muchelule set aside the High Court’s judgment and decree issued on September 20, 2024.

The appellate court found that the High Court wrongly struck down the whole Act without undertaking sufficient textual and principled constitutional analysis, particularly on issues of public finance, devolution, and separation of powers.

The Court of Appeal held that the petition before the High Court was not rendered moot by the 2022 and 2023 amendments to the NGCDF Act.

It further ruled that the Act does not violate the structure or principles of devolution, nor does it offend the constitutional division of functions between the national and county governments.

On the question of separation of powers, the court disagreed with the High Court’s findings, stating that only section 43(9) of the Act was unconstitutional.

The impugned provision, which tied the term of office of a constituency fund manager to the term of parliament and election transition periods, was found to infringe the doctrine of separation of powers and was accordingly severed from the Act.

The verdict came after the National Assembly moved to the appellate court to challenge the September 24, 2024, High Court ruling that found the NG-CDF Act, 2015, unconstitutional.

In July ,2025, MPs unanimously passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which sought to entrench three critical development funds into the Constitution.

The funds include National Constituency Development Fund, Senate Oversight Fund and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.

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