NAIROBI, Kenya — Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has mounted a strong defence of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), urging lawmakers to find a lawful pathway to preserve the fund as court deadlines draw closer to its possible dissolution.
Speaking to journalists at the National Treasury offices on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Mbadi said his long experience in elective politics convinced him that NG-CDF remains one of the most effective tools for delivering development at the grassroots.
The former Suba East MP, who served two terms in Parliament, said direct interaction with communities shaped his belief that the fund delivers tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.
“I have interacted with NG-CDF, and I know its impact. Any money that goes to the grassroots, I have no opposition,” Mbadi said.
His remarks come amid growing uncertainty over the future of the fund following recent court rulings declaring NG-CDF unconstitutional, on the grounds that it blurs the separation of powers by allowing legislators to influence development spending.
Rather than abandoning the fund, Mbadi urged Members of Parliament to pursue alternative legal solutions, including restructuring its governance framework, creating new financing models, or entrenching it in the Constitution to shield it from future litigation.
“Let’s look for a way of entrenching the NG-CDF into the Constitution. Let’s not abolish this,” he said.
Mbadi maintained that devolving resources closer to communities remains a central development objective and should not be treated as optional. He argued that targeted funding mechanisms are necessary to address local needs that may not be adequately prioritised under broader national or county budgets.
The Treasury CS extended his defence to the National Government Affirmative Action Fund, which is managed by women representatives to support development initiatives at the county level. He said both funds serve a similar purpose by plugging gaps in local development.
The debate comes as NG-CDF approaches its final operational months, following court directives that all ongoing projects be completed by June 2026, after which the fund would cease to exist unless legal changes are made.
The ruling has unsettled lawmakers across the political divide. Several MPs and senators have warned that time may be running out to save the fund.
Kimilili MP has publicly questioned whether Parliament still has the capacity to rescue NG-CDF, describing it as being on its “deathbed.”
At the executive level, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has proposed a broader constitutional solution, calling for a referendum to address the future of NG-CDF alongside the Senate Oversight Fund.
Mudavadi has argued that constitutional amendments offer the only durable way to resolve the legal disputes surrounding the funds.
