Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the continued existence of the Constituency Development Fund, saying it plays a direct role in improving lives at the grassroots and should not be scrapped despite recent court rulings.
Speaking to the media at the Treasury headquarters on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Mbadi said his experience as a former two-term Member of Parliament for Suba East has given him firsthand knowledge of how the fund supports local communities.
He insisted that the benefits of the fund outweigh the legal challenges it currently faces.
Mbadi told lawmakers to explore ways of keeping the fund alive, including redesigning it, developing alternative structures, or anchoring it firmly in the Constitution.
He said channeling resources directly to communities remains a priority for him and described the fund as essential rather than optional.
The Treasury CS said he strongly supports the transfer of resources to the grassroots, arguing that NG-CDF has continued to meet local needs in areas such as education and community projects. He added that he wants the fund to remain operational and continue serving citizens across the country.
Mbadi said the same thinking should apply to the Affirmative Action Fund, which is allocated to women representatives to support development initiatives in their counties. He stressed that both funds play a role in addressing gaps at the local level.
“Let’s look for a way of entrenching the NG-CDF into the constitution. Let’s not abolish this. I have interacted with NG-CDF, and I know its impact. Let it remain together with the Affirmative Action Fund. Any money that goes to the grassroots, I have no opposition,” he said.
The remarks come as the future of the fund hangs in the balance, with only four months left before it lapses. Courts had given lawmakers until June 2026 to complete all ongoing projects before the fund is considered fully unconstitutional.
The looming deadline has triggered strong reactions from both Members of Parliament and senators, many of whom fear the fund may not survive. Kimilili MP has publicly questioned whether lawmakers still have the ability to save it, warning that NG-CDF is already on its “deathbed.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has also weighed in on the matter, calling for a referendum as the only lasting solution to the dispute. He said constitutional changes are necessary to resolve the standoff over NG-CDF and the Senate Oversight Fund.
The debate has drawn mixed views from leaders over the years. The late Raila Odinga was among those who strongly opposed the fund, arguing that lawmakers should focus on their core roles of oversight, representation, and lawmaking, while leaving the management of public funds to county governments.
