Ruto ally warns Raila against scrapping NG-CDF
Eastern
By
Erastus Mulwa
| Aug 21, 2025
An ally of President William Ruto has cautioned opposition leader Raila Odinga against pushing for the scrapping of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), which is managed by Members of Parliament.
Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya, who also serves as the national organizing secretary of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), said the recent joint parliamentary group meeting between UDA and ODM legislators ratified the full implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report. Among other provisions, the report recommends entrenching NG-CDF in the Constitution.
“We have a formula for working together under the broad-based government arrangement, and part of our resolution was to adopt the Nadco report, which recommends entrenching NG-CDF, the Senate Oversight Fund, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) in the Constitution. As a key stakeholder of the report, ODM leader Raila Odinga should not speak against the NG-CDF kitty,” said Kawaya.
The legislator said there was no option left for both political divides other than working together to implement the Nadco report in full.
“By fire, by force, we are going to defend NG-CDF, and we do not have to fight. We can agree on principle on certain issues and disagree on others. I am persuaded to work with Raila, but I urge him to desist from attempting to cross the live wire of NG-CDF,” Kawaya said during a boda boda empowerment drive at Kabati in Kitui West.
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The outspoken MP argued that NG-CDF, which was established in 2003, had spurred transformative development across the country—unlike devolved funds, which, according to him, have not delivered commensurate impact.
“If CDF is not working under the patronage of a given MP, then the MP can be voted out and a better person elected to make it work. That is the way to go. There should be no discussion on transferring NG-CDF to governors because the billions they have been receiving as equitable share are not visible,” he said.
Kawaya further noted that there was no legislation supporting the transfer of NG-CDF to counties.
“On which law will CDF be transferred to counties? The Revenue Bill clearly stipulates the various allocations of funds to the national and county governments. NG-CDF funds are part of the allocation to the national government. There is a reason why CDF was renamed NG-CDF,” he added.