Bomet MP Rallies Constituents to Defend CDF in Heated National Debate

By Radio The Sheriff

Bomet, Kenya — Bomet Central Member of Parliament Richard Kilel has taken a firm stand against proposals to scrap the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), warning that its elimination would cripple grassroots development across the country.

Speaking during a public participation forum held in Bomet Central, the legislator described NG-CDF and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) as lifelines for millions of Kenyans, urging residents to support ongoing efforts to protect and institutionalize the funds.

“These funds are vital lifelines for our people. Once properly constituted, we will receive them on time. Let us make the right decision by supporting the bill that guarantees the continuity of key development projects in our area,” said Kilel.

Kilel cited significant strides made under the NG-CDF, particularly in education and infrastructure. He noted that since resuming office, his constituency had constructed over 200 classrooms and renovated many more. Additionally, he recently oversaw the disbursement of KSh 55 million in bursaries, benefiting more than 3,000 learners.

“Scrapping these funds will completely derail our development agenda. It will demoralize communities that have come to rely on this support for access to education and other basic needs,” he stated.

The MP warned that eliminating the fund would impose logistical and financial challenges on needy families. Without local access to bursaries, he argued, parents would be forced to travel long distances to the Ministry of Education in search of assistance—often without guaranteed results.

Echoing his sentiments, Bomet KEPSHA Secretary Joseph Ngetich emphasized the critical role NG-CDF has played in transforming the education landscape in the region.

“CDF has built our schools and supported education in ways no other fund has. It has helped orphans, created employment for our youth, and drastically improved school infrastructure,” said Ngetich.

He added that scrapping the fund would be a major setback to community development, warning that “if the fund is abolished, we will no longer see projects that reflect the real needs of our people.”

The NG-CDF was established in 2003 through legislation passed by Kenya’s 9th Parliament, with the goal of empowering MPs to spearhead development in underserved constituencies. Its future is now at the center of a national debate, with growing calls from some quarters to scrap or restructure the fund.

However, a proposed amendment—known as the Constituency Development Fund Bill 2025—seeks to entrench the NG-CDF, the Senate Oversight Fund, and the NGAAF into law, shielding them from legal challenges and ensuring their continuity.

As the debate unfolds over the next three days, leaders and residents of Bomet Central remain vocal in their opposition to any attempt to dismantle the NG-CDF, insisting it has been a cornerstone of the constituency’s progress for over two decades.