Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for deeper devolution in Kenya, urging the transfer of more powers and resources from the national government to county administrations to boost service delivery and local governance.
Speaking at a devolution conference in Homa Bay, Odinga said Kenya’s strength lies in its 47 counties and advocated for a balanced sharing of authority between Nairobi and local governments. “I believe in devolution, more, not less. Strong county executives should be firmly oversighted by equally strong county assemblies,” he stated.
He criticised the practice of summoning governors to Nairobi for Senate oversight, arguing that county assemblies should address local accountability issues. “If there are concerns with county accounts or investments, the right approach is to deal with the chief executives within the counties, not drag governors to endless appearances before Senate committees,” he said.
Odinga identified education as a key sector for devolution, proposing that funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) be transferred to counties. He argued that MPs should focus on legislation, representation, and oversight rather than disbursing bursaries or building classrooms.
The ODM leader also called for county control over road construction and infrastructure, stating that Nairobi-based agencies should only handle international highways.
“In a devolved system, it makes no sense for someone in Nairobi to manage rural roads in Homa Bay or Kiambu. Counties must have the autonomy they deserve,” he said.
With Kenya’s population projected to surpass 80 million in the next 25 years, Odinga stressed that devolution must continue evolving so counties can become engines of innovation and prosperity.
Written By Rodney Mbua
