National Assembly lawmakers on Tuesday stormed out of Parliament, lamenting that their grievances regarding the National Government Constituencies Development Funds (NGCDF) had not been attended to despite intense lobbying.
The Kenya Kwanza MPs joined a team of opposition MPs led by Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, in seeking answers from Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah who they wanted to lias with the Treasury to have the funds released immediately.
Ichung’wah, while addressing his colleagues, pointed out that the matter would be addressed by Thursday, when Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u would have arrived in the country from the COP 28 event in Dubai.
This, however, did not sit well with the legislators who wanted the issue to be solved immediately and not postponed to a later date.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss faced a tough time trying to convince the legislators to maintain order as they began heckling and directing boos towards Ichung’wah.
“Honourable members, you are denying yourselves, we are trying to establish when the Treasury CS can be here. Consult with the Majority leader because members are walking out before they hear the answer,” Boss stated.
“Honourable members, you are denying yourself an opportunity for an answer.”
Moments later, a section of the aggrieved lawmakers stormed out of Parliament, chanting “No CDF, No Parliament.”
The chaos ensued after Ichung’wah noted that the matter would be pushed until Thursday.
This led to a series of boos from the MPs who demanded that the House should not proceed until the funds are released.
“When an issue comes when there is a conflict between a CS, a PS, a chair of a board and the people of Kikuyu, the latter takes greater precedence than anyone else and that is why I’m pleading with you to allow me to finish,” Ichung’wah stated amid backlash from his colleagues.
The Majority Leader attempted to convince the MPs that the matter of priority was the bursary funds, which had stalled operations within the counties.
“What is bothering most of us is bursary funds. They must disburse at least 40 per cent of the funds before schools open.”
“He (Treasury CS) will be coming back to the country as he was in the COP 28 delegation and upon his arrival, I will provide an update.”
