Frequently Asked Questions

Myth 1: NG-CDF is just a bursary fund.
Reality: NG-CDF funds nationwide education infrastructure (classrooms, laboratories, dormitories), security infrastructure (police stations, chiefs' offices), climate change mitigation (5%), and digital ICT hubs.

Myth 2: NG-CDF duplicates county government functions.
Reality: NG-CDF is drawn strictly from the National Government's share of revenue (at least 2.5% of ordinary revenue) and exclusively finances national government functions at the constituency level.

Myth 3: Members of Parliament control and disburse the money.
Reality: Under the Constitution and Section 43 of the NG-CDF Act 2015, MPs play an oversight role only through the Constituency Oversight Committee. Funds are administered by the NG-CDF Board and the NG-CDFC committee composed of community representatives.

Myth 4: There is no public accountability.
Reality: Every project undergoes public procurement procedures, Auditor-General annual scrutiny, Sub-County internal audit reviews, and Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) oversight.

The National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) is established pursuant to the NG-CDF Act, 2015, as amended in 2016, 2022, and 2023. The Fund is domiciled within the Ministry responsible for National Economic Policy and Planning (The National Treasury & Economic Planning) and managed at the national level by the NG-CDF Board, a state corporation.

The primary purpose of the Fund is to address socio-economic development at the grassroots constituency level, eradicate poverty, and promote regional equity by dedicating not less than 2.5% of all ordinary revenue collected by the National Government to projects prioritized by local communities.

Under Section 16 of the NG-CDF Act, the Board is mandated to:
1. Consider and approve project proposal dossiers submitted from all 290 constituencies.
2. Ensure timely, equitable disbursement of statutory funds to constituency main bank accounts.
3. Ensure efficient, transparent management of the Fund.
4. Coordinate the implementation of inter-constituency collaborative projects.
5. Receive, investigate, and address public grievances and complaints arising from Fund implementation.
6. Administer the assets and affairs of the Board in accordance with the law.

The Fund operates through a 3-tier decentralized implementation framework:
1. National Level: The NG-CDF Board provides overall governance, policy direction, proposal review, and exchequer fund releases.
2. Constituency Level: The NG-CDF Committee (NG-CDFC) compiles community proposals, administers approved project allocations, and oversees Project Management Committees.
3. Community Level: Project Management Committees (PMCs), elected directly by local residents at school or institution barazas, execute civil works and report back to the community.

National Assembly Select Committee (NASC): Oversees the legal and policy framework governing the Fund at the National Assembly level, reviews proposed statutory amendments, and approves the annual national budget allocation.

Constituency Oversight Committee (COC): Chaired by the elected Member of Parliament, mobilizes target groups, solicits public opinions, and presents community views to the National Assembly without participating in operational project execution.

The utilization of NG-CDF funds is subjected to multiple layers of rigorous statutory oversight:
- Auditor-General: Audits all 290 constituency accounts annually and submits formal inspection reports to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
- Sub-County Internal Auditors: Continuously monitor payment vouchers and procurement documentation at the constituency level.
- Board Internal Audit Directorate: Conducts periodic risk-based audits and systems reviews across constituencies.
- Public Project Signboards: Every project site displays a statutory signboard listing the project cost, contractor, PMC membership, and completion date.

In accordance with Section 4 of the NG-CDF Act 2015, the National Assembly allocates at least 2.5% of all national government ordinary revenue collected to the NG-CDF each financial year. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the total fund is divided equally among all 290 constituencies, while the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) is distributed according to the national poverty index determined by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

The Constitution of Kenya (Article 10) and Section 27 of the NG-CDF Act require active citizen participation:
1. Attend ward-level public barazas convened by the NG-CDFC to propose and prioritize community projects.
2. Nominate and elect members of Project Management Committees (PMCs).
3. Provide community oversight during project construction and report lagging works.
4. Attend project commissioning ceremonies and participate in the sustained maintenance of completed public facilities.

The NG-CDFC consists of seven (7) elected community members: one man and one woman representing youth; one man and one woman representing adult men and women; one representative of persons with disabilities (PWD); one faith-based representative; and one community elder. The Fund Account Manager (FAM) serves as the ex-officio secretary. Committee members serve a statutory term of two (2) years, renewable once.