Raila calls for scrapping of NG-CDF and NGAAF
By Aloys Michael, August 14, 2025Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has renewed calls for an overhaul of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
He has proposed that all resources currently managed under the two programmes be transferred to county governments.
He argues that the move would enhance efficiency, strengthen devolution, and improve service delivery.
Speaking on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Devolution conference in Homa Bay County, Raila noted that CDF was introduced at a time when Kenyans were seeking equitable resource distribution under an imperial presidency that starved many regions of development funds.
“Most of the work was left to harambees; when you needed to build a school, harambee; a dispensary, harambee,” he said.
“But the system has since changed. We removed the patronage model, adopted devolution, created a constitutional commission to allocate resources, and empowered Parliament on budgetary matters. In this new order, CDF is obsolete.”
The former Prime Minister criticised the fund for distorting the role of MPs, saying their constitutional duty is to represent the people, legislate, and oversee the national government, not to distribute bursaries or construct classrooms.
“That is the work of counties,” he said.
He also called for a shift in road infrastructure management, suggesting that all urban and rural road projects be handled by counties, while the national government focuses on international highways and trunk roads.
“There is no reason roads in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret and other towns cannot be managed by the governor. It does not make sense that somebody in Nairobi, called Kura, has to come,” he said.
He noted that simultaneous construction projects in all 47 counties could significantly boost the economy.
Tightening rope on graft
While acknowledging that some of these functions are not yet devolved and may require constitutional amendments, Raila said legislation and delegation of functions could fast-track the process, ultimately placing “more power, resources, and prosperity” in the hands of local communities.
Raila backed Ruto’s criticism of the judiciary, blaming it for harbouring corruption and obstructing justice.
He said that some judges are complicit in protecting criminals through questionable court orders.
According to the ODM leader, there was a growing public perception that justice can be bought, with some litigants openly preferring to bribe judges rather than engage lawyers in legal battles.
“When people tell you, ‘Rather than wasting my money hiring a lawyer, I would rather bribe a judge and get whatever I want,’ you know the problem is deep,” Raila said.
“A criminal, when supposed to be arrested, rushes to court and obtains an order stopping the arrest. So the judiciary is a major impediment, too. Corruption resides in the judiciary.”