Raila Odinga Calls for Devolution Review

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has repeated his call for a devolution review to make county governments work better for Kenyans. Speaking during Katiba Day celebrations at KICC, Raila said the current provincial administration should be abolished. He argued that the system is outdated and prevents the country from adopting modern structures of governance. Raila Odinga speaks during Katiba Day at KICC, Nairobi on August 27, 2025. Raila compared Kenya’s 47 counties to other nations. He questioned why Kenya has more devolved units than countries like Nigeria, which has over 200 million people but fewer states. He also noted that the United States has 52 jurisdictions, including federal districts and territories, yet Kenya, with a smaller population, has 47 counties. To solve this, he proposed a three-tier system. The new structure would include county, regional, and national governments. According to him, this setup would improve service delivery and spur development across the country. “I am not calling for the abolition of counties. What I want is the removal of the provincial administration, which is a colonial relic,” Raila said. The ODM leader also pushed for Members of Parliament to surrender the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to counties. He argued that MPs should focus on representation, legislation, and oversight, rather than managing development funds. “If MPs also act as contractors, who will hold them accountable? Oversight becomes compromised,” he explained. Raila said these reforms would require a national referendum. He admitted that his call for a devolution review has made him unpopular but stressed that he would not back down. “This is not negotiable. I am ready to face Kenyans directly. Even if this stand makes me unpopular, I will defend it,” he declared. Beyond devolution, Raila criticised key state institutions, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Police Service (NPS), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). He said they had failed to meet Kenyans’ expectations. On policing, Raila condemned rising human rights abuses. He cited cases of torture, denial of security, and killings linked to police actions. He insisted that urgent reforms were necessary to restore dignity and protect rights. “The NPS has left us worse off than we were in 2010. Abuse of life, torture, and lack of accountability have increased,” he said. Turning to elections, Raila noted that many Kenyans still distrust the IEBC. He said problems that existed in 1992, during the first multiparty elections, continue to affect the commission today. Raila, who has unsuccessfully contested the presidency five times, urged the new IEBC commissioners to act with integrity. “The IEBC must change course. Kenyans deserve free and fair elections. I hope the new commission will finally make a difference,” he added.