Kenyans will from Monday, May 5, 2025, have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) as the National Assembly embarks on a series of public hearings to collect citizens’ views on whether the fund should be entrenched in the Constitution.
The hearings, which are part of the public participation process for the proposed Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No. 4 of 2025, will be held across all 290 constituencies and in the offices of all 47 County Women Representatives between May 5 and May 7. The forums will run daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The bill, currently under parliamentary consideration, seeks to constitutionally enshrine three major development and oversight funds: the NG-CDF, the Senate Oversight Fund, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). This follows years of legal uncertainty surrounding the constitutional legitimacy of the NG-CDF, with courts previously ruling that aspects of the fund’s operations were unconstitutional.
A public notice issued by Parliament emphasized the importance of citizen participation in the process, stating: “The National Assembly is inviting YOU to take part in a Public Participation Exercise on the proposed Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No. 4 of 2025 which seeks to enshrine the National Government Constituencies Fund (NG-CDF), the Senate Oversight Fund, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) into the Constitution of Kenya.”
Kenyans are also encouraged to submit written memoranda with their views on the bill. These can be sent via email to cna@parliament.go.ke or constitutionamendment@parliament.go.ke, or physically delivered to the Clerk of the National Assembly at the Main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi. Postal submissions can be mailed to P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi.
All submissions must be received by Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
The outcome of the hearings and memoranda will be critical in determining whether these funds will gain constitutional protection or face possible restructuring or abolishment.
