Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has come out to express doubt if MPs might succeed in saving the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

Speaking during a radio interview on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Barasa noted that the courts had already declared the fund unconstitutional and directed that it should only remain operational until June 2026 to allow completion of ongoing projects. Should it go past this period, it will take a referendum or a change of the law to have it entrenched into the constitution, something which Didimus Barasa views as impossible.

He argued that the fate of the fund rests largely on the influence of party leaders who command majority numbers in the National Assembly.

With both President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga opposed to the existence of the NG-CDF, should the motion of saving it be brought in parliament, it means it’s the two leaders who decide on the party positions, and since they are opposed to it, it will be difficult for the MPs to resurrect it, according to Barasa.

“CDF is set to lapse in June 2026 if a new law is not enacted. From the look of things, I don’t think MPs will succeed in saving it, because we have been advised that for CDF to be revived or reinstated, it would require a referendum,” Barasa stated.

 “Nobody should be misled; the National Assembly is controlled by two coalitions: Raila’s ODM and Ruto’s UDA. Since both leaders have been calling for its removal, it is unlikely to survive. Should the matter come up, they are the ones mandated to call a parliamentary group meeting, set the party position, and whip

MPs opposing scrapping of fund

The debate over the NG-CDF has recently intensified following renewed calls by Raila Odinga to scrap the fund. Raila has insisted that MPs should stick to their constitutional roles of legislation, oversight, and representation rather than managing development funds.

His position has, however, sparked division within ODM, with some legislators opposing his stance. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo openly challenged him during a parliamentary sitting, accusing the party leader of favouring governors over MPs. She urged him to balance his support between the two arms of government, arguing that both county executives and legislators deserve equal consideration.

At the same time, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed disagreed with Raila’s position and assured MPs that he would personally seek to persuade the ODM leader to reconsider his call for the abolition of the NG-CDF.