Raila Backs Stronger Devolution, Calls for Empowered County Assemblies

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga speaking during  9th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County on August 14, 2025/ HANDOUT

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has reaffirmed his support for a stronger devolution system, urging that Kenya needs more, not less devolution to strengthen governance and service delivery at the county level.

Speaking at the 9th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, Raila outlined his vision for a balanced relationship between the national government and the 47 counties.

He stressed that both levels of government must operate effectively without one undermining the other.

“I believe in devolution. I believe in more, not less, devolution. I believe in a balance of power between Nairobi and the counties. None should stand in the way of the other,” he said.

The ODM leader emphasised the importance of strong county executives working alongside equally strong county assemblies.

According to Raila, the oversight of county governments should be the responsibility of county assemblies rather than the Senate.

“County governments are supposed to be oversighted by county assemblies, not the Senate. It is unnecessary for governors to be summoned to appear before senators in Nairobi,” he noted.

He further added that only the Senate’s Public Accounts and Public Investments committees should summon county officials and even then, not necessarily governors themselves but the chief executives of county governments.

Raila criticised what he termed a waste of time when governors are repeatedly called before Senate committees, arguing that such practices disrupt service delivery at the county level.

“All the time, someone in governance will come up here before these committees, it is a waste of time,” he said.

Under Kenya’s Constitution, county assemblies are the primary oversight bodies for county governments. They monitor the work of county executives, approve budgets and development plans and hold county officials to account on how laws and policies are implemented.

County assemblies also have the power to summon county executive members and chief officers to answer questions on service delivery and expenditure.

The Senate, on the other hand, protects the interests of counties at the national level and oversees how national revenue allocated to counties is used. Its committees, such as the Public Accounts and Public Investments committees, review Auditor-General reports and can summon governors or other officials to explain the use of funds.

However, this mandate is limited to financial accountability, with the day-to-day oversight of county executives remaining the responsibility of the county assemblies.