National Assembly sitting. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
In a landmark move, the National Assembly has unanimously passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to anchor three key development funds—the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), the Senate Oversight Fund (SOF), and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)—into the Constitution.
The Bill sailed through both the Second and Third Readings with overwhelming support. During the Second Reading, all 304 Members of Parliament voted in favour, while 298 MPs endorsed it during the Third Reading, registering a rare unanimous vote in the House.
Jointly sponsored by Rarieda MP Hon. Otiende Amollo and Ainabkoi MP Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, the Bill was first introduced in Parliament on March 12, 2025, and subsequently referred to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) for scrutiny.
Following a robust public participation process conducted across all 290 constituencies, the Committee tabled its report on June 17, revealing overwhelming national backing. JLAC Vice Chair Hon. Prof. Guyo Jaldesa (Moyale) disclosed that more than 98% of submissions supported the constitutional entrenchment of the three funds.
“A staggering 98.4% of Kenyans support this amendment. The people have spoken,” Prof. Jaldesa stated, expressing optimism about the Bill's future.
The amendment seeks to provide legal certainty and constitutional protection for the three funds, which have been instrumental in delivering services at the grassroots.
The NG-CDF continues to play a vital role in enhancing equitable access to education and infrastructure projects across the country. The SOF aims to strengthen the Senate's oversight of county governments, while NGAAF targets vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Leader of Majority Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah lauded the NG-CDF as the most transformative fund at the grassroots level, underscoring its complementary role to county government resources.
“These funds have enabled the national government to meet its obligations in education, security and social welfare. They are practical tools for grassroots service delivery,” Ichung’wah said.
The Bill drew bipartisan support, with lawmakers sharing personal testimonies and constituency-level success stories that highlighted the far-reaching impact of the NG-CDF and related funds.
Hon. Otiende Amollo emphasized the Bill’s constitutional alignment, noting that it clarifies the distinction between devolution and decentralisation while reinforcing equitable development as envisioned by the Constitution.
Dagoretti North MP Hon. Beatrice Elachi praised the transformative role of NG-CDF in the education sector.
“There are doctors, magistrates, teachers and engineers who owe their success to this Fund. As the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) takes root, requiring new facilities like science labs, we cannot afford to abandon NG-CDF,” Elachi noted.
Kaiti MP Hon. Joshua Kimilu echoed similar sentiments, pointing to tangible outcomes in his constituency.
“In my area alone, more than 280 students benefit from full scholarships each year through NG-CDF. Its impact is visible in every village,” he said.
With the Bill having cleared the constitutional two-thirds majority threshold in the National Assembly, it now moves to the Senate for consideration—a critical step toward enshrining the three development funds into Kenya’s supreme law.
