President William Ruto has signed into law the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Amendment Bill, which will increase the allocation of funds for school bursaries from 15% to 25% of the total CDF budget.
The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly and the Senate last month, also raises the minimum CDF allocation for each constituency from 2.5% to 5% of the national government’s revenue.
Speaking at the State House in Nairobi, President Ruto said the new law will enhance the provision of quality education and reduce the burden of school fees for needy students.
He also praised the bicameral parliament for working together to pass the bill, saying it was a demonstration of the spirit of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which seeks to foster unity and development in the country.
The CDF Amendment Bill was sponsored by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who said it was aimed at addressing the challenges faced by many constituencies in implementing development projects and supporting education.
He thanked the president for assenting to the bill, saying it will empower the people at the grassroots level and improve their living standards.
The CDF Act, which was enacted in 2003, provides for the establishment of a fund for each constituency to finance local development projects and promote community participation.
According to the latest CDF allocation, each of the 290 constituencies will receive Ksh 137 million in the 2023/2024 financial year, up from Ksh 100 million in the previous year.
