- The NG-CDF dedicates approximately Sh15 billion annually to the Bursary Scheme.
- The bursary funds benefit needy and deserving children from poor backgrounds.
Image: FILE
The National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board better known as NG-CDF will on Friday celebrate a 20-year legacy of empowering communities and transforming lives across all 290 constituencies.
The NG-CDF Board will host the celebrations at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi.
President William Ruto and other top government officials are expected to grace the event and acknowledge the fund's significant achievements.
NG-CDF Board chair John Olago Aluoch said it will be an actual demonstration of government's commitment towards balanced socio-economic development.
"This is a real manifestation of the government's policy on the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The celebration will provide an opportunity to reminisce on the 20-year journey, demonstrate the key achievements and share knowledge with the citizens of this great country, Kenya,” Aluoch said in a statement.
Chief Executive Officer Yusuf Mbuno noted that the fund remains committed to its core mission of empowering Kenyans at the grassroots level.
"Through strategic investments and partnerships, the fund has made a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities, fostering growth and prosperity,” he said.
Allocations from the fund currently stand at Sh53.53 billion, which is the required minimum (2.5 per cent) of national government sharable revenue.
NG-CDF has been funding functions that are exclusive to the National Government since 2016.
The bulk of the funds are channelled to education (78.2 per cent), security (5.7 per cent), climate change (1.6 per cent) while other projects share the remaining percentage.
The 78.2 per cent for education comprise of 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 NG-CDF Board.
The board named as notable achievement the construction of 26,452 new classrooms, which created an estimated capacity for 1,190,340 students in the last five years.
NG-CDF has also established 3,087 new schools from scratch, representing a substantial 26.6 per cent increase in schools built nationwide between 2003 and 2023.
The fund has also championed inclusive education by initiating 16 special needs schools nationwide.
Over the years, the Fund has also seen construction and renovation of national administration and security projects such as offices, chief camps, police posts and stations.
Moreover, installing high-mast security lights in various locations has significantly reduced crime rates, fostering a more conducive business environment.
The board noted that an estimated Sh3.3 billion has been channelled towards environmental initiatives such as tree cover restoration and energy conservation projects since 2016.