NAIROBI, Kenya – Women Representatives from 47 counties have sharply criticized the National Treasury for slashing Sh500 million from the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), warning that the cut undermines critical services for women, youth, and persons with disabilities at the grassroots.
The legislators, speaking passionately on the floor of the National Assembly, accused the government of betraying its commitment to inclusive development and ignoring the vital role NGAAF plays in addressing community-level challenges.
Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo, who first raised the matter in the House, lamented the impact of the deduction on their ability to fulfill constituency obligations.
“Mr. Speaker, the 47 Woman Reps in this country are bleeding right now. All of them have been castrated with a blunt Burdizzo. We usually think on our feet and ahead of the curve by planning. When someone throws a wrench into our plans, we are left with theory, not action,” she said. “This Sh500 million deduction is a blow to women’s development initiatives. It must be returned to the NGAAF kitty. How do I explain this to the people of Busiathat I sat here while their money was taken and did nothing?”
The protest follows confirmation by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi that the NGAAF budget had been reduced from Sh3.2 billion to Sh2.7 billion as part of a broader fiscal rationalization process.
The Treasury recently disbursed Sh1.1 billion to the fund, but lawmakers say the outstanding amount remains a significant shortfall.
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed raised concern over what she termed conflicting justifications from Treasury officials.
“I asked the Treasury CS directly, and he claimed the deduction happened in Parliament yet it was the Treasury that slashed the funds. We have been unfairly targeted. I want to tell the people of Mombasa and across the country: this is not our fault. Please do not direct your anger at us,” she said.
The 47 Women Representatives Caucus, chaired by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, has vowed to escalate the matter and is planning a protest march to the offices of the National Treasury and the NGAAF secretariat.
“We are mourning this injustice today by wearing black, while pink symbolizes the NGAAF cause.We will march to demand accountability and reinstatement of the Sh500 million. This is not just about money it is about dignity, fairness, and the right to serve our people,”said Kagiri.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan, in support of the Women Reps, termed the move by Treasury retrogressive and politically insensitive demanding for action.
“It is unacceptable to deny these leaders the resources needed to carry out constitutional responsibilities. Women represent the majority of voters in this country. Stripping them of development funds is both unfair and strategically unsound,” he said.
Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Samuel Atandi assured the lawmakers that the issue would be addressed urgently and indicated that constitutional avenues could be used to remedy the situation.
“I will personally meet with Treasury officials and recommend invoking Article 223 of the Constitution so the funds can be released. We must correct this wrong,” he said.
NGAAF remains a critical vehicle for socio-economic transformation at the grassroots, providing targeted funding for education bursaries, women’s economic empowerment, community health services, and shelter projects.
However, implementation challenges persist. A recent audit by the Office of the Auditor General revealed that over Sh554 million allocated under NGAAF remained unutilized in county accounts, highlighting the need for more efficient fund deployment alongside sufficient budgeting.
