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Governance expert questions Raila’s motives on CDF debate
19th August, 2025 08:42 AM
Governance expert Fred Ogola has raised concerns over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s push to have members of parliament surrender the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), questioning the opposition leader’s intentions.
Speaking in a TV interview on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Ogola argued that Raila’s agenda is less about improving development outcomes and more about finding easier access to public funds.
According to him, MPs currently have tight control over NG-CDF allocations, making it difficult for outsiders to manipulate or redirect resources.
“Raila Odinga has an agenda, but he is not genuine. On matters of the NG-CDF, he wants to find ways to siphon the money because they have noticed MPs are holding the funds tightly in the county governments. They want to find pockets they can access more easily than dealing with MPs,” Ogola stated.
A political game behind the debate
Ogola further claimed that the NG-CDF conversation is only part of a larger political strategy as President William Ruto and Raila Odinga continue to size each other up ahead of the 2027 general elections. He noted that Ruto cannot allow Raila to gain political mileage that could complicate his path to reelection.
“Ruto cannot entertain Raila creating a three-horse presidential race that could destroy the potential for 50+1. Therefore, they are flexing their muscles and whipping MPs and senators to align with either ODM or UDA. This is a political game plan,” Ogola explained.
The governance expert suggested that the recent heightened debates over NG-CDF are less about development at the grassroots level and more about securing political capital.
For Raila, pushing for a share in how NG-CDF is managed may serve as a way to maintain influence within counties, while for Ruto, keeping MPs loyal ensures that the government agenda continues without disruption.
The remarks come at a time when political temperatures in the country are steadily rising. Both government and opposition leaders are under scrutiny over how they are handling matters of accountability, transparency, and the use of public resources.
The NG-CDF remains one of the most sensitive topics, with critics warning that political interference could undermine its intended purpose of addressing development needs directly at the constituency level.
Ogola’s comments have sparked fresh debate on whether the fund is being used as a tool for genuine development or as a pawn in a broader political chess game.
