Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged for a more extensive devolution of powers, advocating for the transfer of additional functions to county governments, including education and road construction, to enhance service delivery and local governance.
Speaking at a devolution conference in Homa Bay, Odinga noted that Kenya’s strength lies within its 47 counties and called for a balanced distribution of power between Nairobi and local governments.
“Let’s get back to business. I believe in devolution—more, not less. Strong county executives should be firmly oversighted by equally strong county assemblies,” Odinga stated.
He criticized the practice of summoning governors to Nairobi for Senate oversight, asserting that county assemblies should manage local issues instead of the Senate.
“If there are issues 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 highlighted education as a sector ripe for devolution, proposing that funds currently managed by the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) be transferred to county administrations.
“It is time to end the practice of managing our schools from Nairobi. Counties must now handle education up to the secondary level. Millions of shillings meant for our children are being handled remotely—tasks that rightly belong to governors and county administrations,” Odinga asserted.
He argued that the existing CDF system is outdated and distracts MPs from their constitutional roles of legislation, representation, and oversight.
“Members of Parliament are meant to represent the people, legislate, and exercise oversight over the national government—not hand out bursaries or build classrooms. The time has come to modernize education governance, putting authority and accountability closer to the people,” he added.
Odinga also called for the devolution of road construction and infrastructure development, stating that there is no justification for Nairobi-based agencies to oversee county roads. He insisted that local governments should manage their own urban and rural roads while the national government focuses on 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 emphasized.
The former Prime Minister remarked that devolution is an ongoing journey that requires continuous adaptation to Kenya’s evolving population and development needs. With projections indicating that the nation will exceed 80 million people in the next 25 years, Odinga stressed the importance of counties evolving into engines of innovation and prosperity.
