Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has renewed his call for deeper devolution, urging the transfer of more powers and resources from the national government to Kenya’s 47 counties. Speaking at a devolution conference in Homa Bay, Odinga said that for the country to strengthen service delivery and governance, counties must take on additional functions particularly in education and infrastructure.
“I believe in devolution more, not less,” Odinga stated. “Strong county executives should be firmly oversighted by equally strong county assemblies.” He emphasized that oversight of county governments should primarily be handled at the local level, arguing against the practice of summoning governors to Nairobi for Senate hearings.
On education, Odinga proposed a significant policy shift: transferring the management of schools up to the secondary level from Nairobi to county governments. He said that funds currently handled through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) should be redirected to counties. According to Odinga, this move would place authority and accountability closer to the people, ensuring more responsive governance.
“It is time to end the practice of managing our schools from Nairobi,” he said. “Millions of shillings meant for our children are being handled remotely—tasks that rightly belong to governors and county administrations.” He also criticized the current CDF system, saying it diverts Members of Parliament from their core roles of legislation, representation, and oversight.
Odinga further called for the devolution of road construction and infrastructure management, arguing that counties should handle 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,” he said.
Looking ahead, Odinga noted that Kenya’s population is projected to surpass 80 million within the next 25 years. He stressed that counties must evolve into hubs of innovation and economic growth to meet the demands of a rapidly growing nation.
“Devolution is a journey,” he concluded. “As Kenya changes, so too must the way we govern, ensuring that power, resources, and responsibility are shared equitably.”
