Senator Oketch gives reasons why CDF should not be abolished
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 4, 2025Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has come out opposing the abolishment of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
While speaking during an interview on the Mufasa Show on Tuesday, November 4, Oketch defended the fund despite a majority of senators calling for its removal, saying that it should not be scrapped but continue serving its intended functions.
With calls for its abolishment intensifying, those leading the push argue that lawmakers should focus solely on representation, legislation, and oversight, and that the funds should instead be handed to governors to advance development in their counties.
However, Oketch has opposed this, saying that CDF was created in the same spirit of devolution and that funds already devolved, such as CDF, should remain in place rather than be scrapped as currently planned.
He went on to say that CDF helps MPs perform their duties better by solving local problems at the grassroots level, such as through bursaries.
“Pesa yote imeenda kwa grassroot ibaki huko isiwahi tolerance, tutafute formula ya kufanya ikae huko chini isirudi juu,” Oketch said.
CDF’s abolishment
This comes a few months before the fund’s operational lifespan ends. The courts had ruled it unconstitutional and given it until May 2026 to cease functioning, allowing MPs to complete projects already underway.
The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was one of the strongest proponents of abolishing CDF.
He called for its scrapping and urged MPs to concentrate on their legislative work, a stance that caused a stir even among his allies, with Suna East MP Junet Mohamed vowing at the time to convince Raila to reconsider.
Didmus Barasa’s view on CDF
Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa also came out expressing doubt if MPs would 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 that 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.