Drama as MPs storm out of Parliament over NG-CDF impasse

Drama ensued in Parliament on Tuesday, December 5 after a section of irked Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walk-out over the NG-CDF impasse.

The legislators, mostly drawn from the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, lamented that the National Government was yet to disburse money meant for the Nationa Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

The first disbursement (KSh13.5 billion) was supposed to be released in October this year but that never happened.

MPs storm out of Parliament Chambers chanting 'No CDF, no Parliament' pic.twitter.com/5P3iioQKuq
— TV47 (@tv47news) December 5, 2023

The MPs now want the National Treasury to disburse both the first and the second disbursements (a sum of KSh32.9 billion).

Led by the National Assembly Select Committee on NG-CDF Chairperson Musa Sirma, the MPs are now threatening to paralyse all government business in Parliament if the monies aren’t released.

MPs ask President Ruto to return from India trip to sort out CDF disbursement delays. They claim the fund has not been sent to constituencies, 6 months after the budget was passed by parliament pic.twitter.com/wonavWVCRU
— TV47 (@tv47news) December 5, 2023

Mps blocking any member who is trying to access the chambers,Including majority whip Silvanus Osoro pic.twitter.com/BHh2HUvCkE
— TV47 (@tv47news) December 5, 2023

Minority Leader in the House, Opiyo Wandayi, laments that the Treasury has not provided any justification for not releasing the funds.

“We are now in the sixth month of the FY 2023/2024. As we speak since this House appropriated funds to the NGCDF board for disbursement to respective NGCDF committees, not a single cent has hit the bank accounts of these committees,” the Ugunja MP said.