Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u Admits Govt Is Broke After Protest By MPs Over CDF Funds: "Bear With Us"

• Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u appeared before the National Assembly's Finance Committee
• He disclosed to the committee that the country was facing liquidity challenges that have affected cash flow across government
• The Treasury CS said President William Ruto's administration was having difficulties meeting some financial obligations, such as payment of salaries

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u has explained why the government has not disbursed funds for the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

Appearing before the National Assembly Finance Committee on Wednesday, December 6, Ndung'u admitted the Kenya Kwanza administration was having a problem raising revenue.

CS Ndung'u: Why is government unable to release CDF funds?

According to the CS, the public coffers are running low on cash, making it difficult to meet the government's financial goals.

Ndung'u stated that the Kenya Kwanza administration was struggling to pay salaries for civil servants due to the unavailability of funds.

"NG-CDF will be released as soon as government has enough funds; at the moment, we are not getting taxes as required, and the government is having challenges paying salaries, so please bear with us; we are working around the clock to make things work," Ndung'u told MPs

However, he assured the legislators that the government was working hard to ensure funds were available to counties.

"We are doing everything possible to ensure the disbursement of CDF funds no matter how little we can," he added.

Why MPs disrupted parliamentary sitting

As reported earlier, an afternoon sitting of the National Assembly was disrupted on Tuesday, December 5, after lawmakers camped outside to protest delays in the disbursement of the NG-CDF monies.

Those on the rampage blocked their colleagues who strived to access the chambers.

The lawmakers walked out demanding the funds be released before they could embark on the remainder of sessions this year ahead of their long recess.

Efforts by the sergeant-at-arms to contain the MPs proved futile as their chants overpowered them.

United, their respective political extractions notwithstanding, the MPs stormed out of the chambers as they ululated "No CDF, No Parliament" in unison.

According to the legislators, activities in their areas had been halted due to a lack of funding, with learners dependent on the bursaries sourced from the kitty and risking missing school fees.