Former Prime minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga
By IP reporter.
NAIROBI, Kenya (IP)
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday renewed his push for a radical overhaul of Kenya’s devolution model, saying the current system needs restructuring to deliver better services and development.
Speaking at the inaugural Katiba Day celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Raila said the provincial administration remains a “colonial relic” that should be scrapped to make way for modern governance.
“I believe the time has come to re-examine the entire model of devolution. Nigeria, with over 200 million people, has fewer states compared to the number of counties we have,” Raila said. “I am not proposing the abolition of any county, but I believe the provincial administration is a colonial relic that should be done away with.”
Raila, a key figure in Kenya’s 2010 constitutional reforms, argued for a three-tier governance structure — county, regional and national — to enhance development and cut duplication.
He also questioned the sustainability of Kenya’s 47 counties, noting that the United States, with 52 states and territories, serves a much larger population.
The opposition leader further challenged lawmakers to relinquish control of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to counties, saying it undermines the separation of powers.
“We are not supposed to be funding projects through NG-CDF when we already have two levels of government: national and county,” he said. “If you are both an MP and a contractor, then who is truly carrying out the oversight role?”
His remarks come amid renewed debate on the cost and efficiency of Kenya’s devolved units, which now consume about 35% of national revenue but still face accusations of mismanagement and stalled projects.
Katiba Day, inaugurated by President William Ruto, marks 15 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution and is dedicated to reflection on constitutional progress and challenges.
