Mbadi explains why CDF shouldn’t be scrapped
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 16, 2026Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has come out to defend the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from being scrapped.
While speaking to the media at the Treasury headquarters on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the CS, who has served over two terms as an elected member of parliament for Suba East, defended the fund, stating that having served for two terms, he has seen the benefits of the fund and wants it to continue in place, despite the courts recently declaring otherwise.
The CS argued that members of parliament should look for ways to incorporate the fund, come up with new models to sustain it, or entrench it into the constitution. He stated that he is the greatest proponent of resources being devolved to the grassroots, and for him, CDF is not optional; he wants it to remain in place and continue serving Kenyans.
He stated that the same approach should be replicated for the Affirmative Action Fund, which is normally allocated to women representatives to advance their activities in the counties they come from, insisting:
“Let’s look for a way of entrenching the NG-CDF into the constitution. Let’s not abolish this. I have interacted with NG-CDF, and I know its impact. Let it remain together with the Affirmative Action Fund. Any money that goes to the grassroots, I have no opposition,” he said.
NG-CDF’s removal
This comes at a time when only four months remain for the fund to exist, as the courts had given it until June 2026 for MPs to finish all pending projects before it could be deemed fully unconstitutional.
This has led to an uproar from MPs and senators over the potential abolishment of the fund, with Kimilili MP doubting if lawmakers will manage to resurrect it, as it is now on its “deathbed”.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for a referendum to solve such long-standing issues, saying that a constitutional change is the only way to end this standoff, together with the Senate Oversight Fund.
The late Raila Odinga was among the many leaders who were very vocal about this fund, saying that MPs should stick to their roles as parliamentarians, such as oversight, representation, and legislation, and leave the management of funds to county bosses.