Members of Parliament urge the Kenyan public to oppose the suggested elimination of the NG-CDF chairperson, Musa Sirma.

Members of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) Committee have asked Kenyans to guard the kitty to ensure sustained grassroots development in the wake of a proposal to scrap it. Led by Committee chairperson Musa Sirma (Eldama Ravine),

the MPs noted that the fund has assisted many poor households pay school fees in addition to upgrading critical learning infrastructure across the country.

They were speaking during the insurance of NG-CDF bursaries to needy learners in Dagoretti-North Constituency in Nairobi.

“All of us are assembled here to benefit from this crucial kitty, and you can see what the fund is doing in the upgrade of our learning infrastructure. Any talk about abolishing NG-CDF is ill-intended,” Sirma said.

The debate surrounding the potential abolition of NG-CDF has drawn significant attention in recent days.

The proposal, championed by Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda, aims to reduce government expenditure as an austerity measure

Mutinda argues that abolishing the NG-CDF would help streamline government functions and address the country’s pressing debt issues.

She says MPs should focus on their legislative duties rather than getting involved in development projects.

On Thursday, Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi challenged parents to complement the efforts of the NG-CDF team by making timely payments of the remaining fees to ensure learners remain in school.

“My efforts to ensure the fair distribution of NG-CDF bursaries are not enough. I need your help as parents with the payment of the remainder of the fees so that our learners can remain in school,” Elachi said.

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo challenged parents and university students to familiarise themselves with the new university funding model and to fix their applications accordingly to prevent being locked out of crucial government funds.

Nairobi County Woman Rep Esther Passaris challenged parents to ensure they retain learners in school to curb recent cases of school dropouts.

Also in attendance was the NG-CDF Board.