Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has renewed his call for the national government to fully embrace and empower devolution, emphasizing that well-resourced counties are vital for inclusive and sustainable development across Kenya.
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations held in Homa Bay, Raila underscored the importance of financial autonomy for county governments, arguing that localized governance is best suited to address the immediate needs of citizens.
“We brought back devolution in our constitution. This devolution has faced several challenges, and I want to invite you, Mr President, to ensure that devolution works. Empower devolution by providing more resources to the counties,” Raila said.
He urged President William Ruto to support counties not only by increasing allocations but also by entrusting them with greater responsibility in the implementation of development projects and service delivery.
“Let the counties have sufficient resources so that they can be able to provide services to the people,” Raila reiterated, adding that even services not officially devolved could be delegated to county governments for efficient execution.
The ODM leader also voiced strong opposition to any attempt to reintroduce the provincial administration, describing it as an outdated colonial relic that would undermine the progress made under the devolved system.
“Your Excellency, I want to plead with you. Do not resurrect provincial administration. Provincial administration is a relic of colonialism that has no place today in a free and independent Kenya,” Raila cautioned.
He appealed to Parliament to uphold the constitutional spirit of devolution by ensuring an equitable distribution of national revenue and to refrain from recentralizing development through Nairobi-based structures.
Further, Raila reminded Members of Parliament to focus on their core duties—legislation, representation, and oversight—while leaving planning and implementation of development projects to the counties.
“We want our MPs to do their work effectively… but allow the development to be done by the county governments,” he urged.
Raila concluded by calling for the fulfillment of the bipartisan agreement to allocate Ksh450 billion to counties in the upcoming budget, asserting that such a move would accelerate the country’s overall development.
