Maraga calls for NG-CDF abolishment, terms it’s unconstitutional

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called for the abolition of the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), terming it unconstitutional.
Speaking on a local TV station on July 2, Maraga stated that the allocation of public funds should adhere strictly to the two levels of government as envisioned in the Constitution — the national and county governments.
He emphasised that the current structure of the CDF undermines this constitutional principle.
According to Maraga, the CDF has largely become a tool for Members of Parliament to seek re-election, rather than a mechanism for meaningful development.
He argued that in most cases, there is little to show for the money allocated, and the funds are often used to issue token bursaries and implement shallow, short-term projects.
“It is a very serious matter; the constitutional framework is that the funding is to be disbursed at two levels, at the national level and at the county level. Talk about CDF, for example. Why do the MPs require CDF for their reelection? They want to use that so that they can endear themselves to the electorate and be reelected,” Maraga said.
He proposed that if funding is to be done properly, it should be channelled through the county government.
Maraga suggested that elected leaders from a county, including MPs, senators, and the governor, should work together to make joint decisions on how the allocated funds should be utilised to ensure consistency and transparency in development.
“The MPs in that county and the senators in that county – their views are supposed to be heard as to how the funds are supposed to be distributed. That is where they should be heard so that there is uniformity,” Maraga added.
Maraga further challenged the effectiveness of the CDF by pointing out that the Ksh100 million allocated annually to each MP rarely results in tangible outcomes.
He cited an example of a visit he made to a particular region, where he found a public building that, on paper, was said to have cost Ksh50 million. In his assessment, however, the structure could not have cost more than Ksh5 million.
He concluded by insisting on the need to uphold the Constitution by respecting the two-tier government structure for all funding matters at the national and county levels only.
Raila’s take on CDF
Raila Odinga has also in the past voiced his reservations about the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), branding it unconstitutional and a mechanism for MPs to secure political leverage.

In 2024, he criticised the fund for undermining devolution by duplicating county government functions and allowing MPs to control development resources.
While not directly targeting the NG-CDF’s top leaders, such as Chairperson John Olago Aluoch or CEO Yusuf Mbuno, Odinga’s push for constitutional adherence suggests that their roles may be unsustainable.
He has pledged to campaign against MPs who resist the fund’s dissolution by 2027, aligning himself with court rulings mandating its termination by June 2026.