Gem Member of Parliament (MP) Elisha Odhiambo has strongly called on Kenyans to unite in opposition to the potential abolition of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), which was recently declared unconstitutional by the courts. Speaking at the Gem, Wagai Sub County headquarters during the disbursement of Ksh.31 million in CDF bursaries for secondary school students, Odhiambo emphasized the critical role the fund has played in local development and educational support.
Odhiambo underscored that the NG-CDF has positively impacted many Kenyans, providing funding for critical projects such as infrastructure development, education, and health services across constituencies. According to the MP, the benefits of the fund are undeniable, and its termination would have severe repercussions on local communities that have directly or indirectly gained from its support.
“Looking at what the CDF has been doing, it is something that we can never terminate,” Odhiambo stated, expressing his belief that the fund should remain operational, despite legal challenges. He further revealed that MPs are already in discussions to come up with legislation that would amend the fund’s framework to align with constitutional requirements, thus ensuring its continued existence in a legally acceptable form.
In addition to advocating for the NG-CDF, Odhiambo also turned his attention to the ongoing challenges facing county governments in securing bursary funds for students. He called on the Council of Governors to engage the Controller of Budget to resolve the issue and secure proper funding channels for bursaries. “There is the Council of Governors that is supposed to have quarterly meetings with the Controller of Budget to negotiate and secure funding for bursaries,” Odhiambo explained.
The MP also took a swipe at Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), accusing him of insincerity in his criticism of the government. Odhiambo claimed that Sifuna’s remarks were politically motivated, aimed at gaining favor with those in power for personal benefit.
With pressure mounting from different quarters to protect the NG-CDF, Odhiambo’s call to action serves as a rallying cry for Kenyans to voice their concerns and safeguard the fund’s role in national development.
