Lurambi MP Titus Khamala now says they have resolved to have the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) scrapped to appease the protesting youth.
Khamala regretted that they have continued to come under attacks and sharp criticisms from the Gen Zs over using the money.
The protesters, he said, have ignored the benefits of the funds on society.
“Sisi kama wabunge tumeongea kwa kauli moja (as MPs we have unanimously agreed) that this CDF which is giving us problems and getting us abused all over be removed to make these Gen Zs happy,” he said.
According to the MP, the funds, especially the bursary, have assisted many of the orphans and vulnerable children who he said will now have to seek assistance from the county and the ministry.
“Watakuwa wanatafuta sasa HELB na watakuwa wanatafuta minister wa Education ama waende kwa county. Mjipange sasa life without CDF,” he said.
“Those who have been using it well, their people will miss development but those who have been misusing it their people will not lose anything because they were getting nothing.”
In November 2023, MPs passed a new law that increased educational bursary funds from 35 to 40 per cent of the NG-CDF.
This means each of the MPs would get between Sh180 million to Sh220 million every year.
The bulk of the NG-CDF is channelled to education (78.2 per cent), security (5.7 per cent), and climate change (1.6 per cent) while other projects share the remaining percentage.
The 78.2 per cent for education comprises bursary funds for needy and deserving children from poor backgrounds.
The NG-CDF dedicates approximately Sh15 billion annually to bursary.
On average, 1.2 million disadvantaged students benefit annually, according to the NG-CDF Board.
Treasury recently announced cuts in the allocation by Sh15 billion, which could affect bursaries for thousands of students, as well as school projects.
This is in response to the budget shortfalls due to the rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024.
MPs have allocated themselves up to Sh51 billion in this financial year.
The legislators who are currently on recess have been under scrutiny over the usage of the funds with reports emerging that many are diverting it to unintended purposes.
President William Ruto urged the leaders recently to ensure they use the funds prudently and avoid misuse.
“Any member of parliament who presides over the misappropriation of CDF or the theft of CDF should never be elected. They should never be elected because it is the ultimate betrayal of the people who elected you,” he said.
He stated that an elected MP has a salary of Sh1 million and they have no business misappropriating money meant for the education of their constituents.
“The people of Kenya have elected you, you have a salary of Sh1 million and then the money meant for the bursary of their children, money meant for the education of their children wewe umeenda kuhangaika nayo mpaka imepotea,” the President said.
