Kanchory criticises Raila’s proposal for MCAs to oversight governors
Former Raila Odinga campaign manager Saitabao Ole Kanchory has strongly criticised his proposal for Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to take the lead in overseeing governors.
Taking to his official X on Thursday night, August 14, 2025, Kanchory argues that MCAs cannot effectively hold governors accountable.
You might also like
He claimed that corruption-sharing arrangements between some party leaders and governors make it even harder for MCAs to perform proper oversight.
“We know there’s a corruption sharing agreement between some party leaders and governors but it is downright ridiculous to suggest that MCAs can effectively oversight a governor and the Senate should keep off county affairs. The Senate in fact generally does a fairly good job,” he criticised.
According to Kanchory, weakening the Senate’s authority over counties would undermine accountability and open the door for more corruption at the county level.
Raila on counties’ oversight
This comes after the former prime minister said that the Senate should not oversee county governments.
Speaking during the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on Thursday, August 14, 2025, Odinga strongly reaffirmed his commitment to devolved governance, stating that it remains a critical pillar of Kenya’s democratic and development agenda.
“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,” Raila declared.
Raila emphasised that the original intent of devolution under the 2010 Constitution was to bring services closer to the people while promoting local accountability and development.
However, he expressed concern over growing tensions between county executives and the Senate, particularly regarding oversight mechanisms.
“County governments are supposed to be overseen by county assemblies, not the Senate,” Raila said.
Raila also called for strengthened checks and balances within the counties themselves, insisting that both the executive and assembly at the county level must be equally empowered and accountable.
“I believe in strong county executives overseen by equally strong county assemblies,” he noted, urging MCAs to rise to the task of effective oversight and to resist political manipulation from external forces.
Several governors have previously protested Senate summonses, claiming they are politically motivated or redundant.
