ODM MPs criticise Raila’s push for surrendering CDF money to counties
A section of Members of Parliament (MPs) allied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have criticised their party leader, Raila Odinga, over his sustained push to have the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) devolved to counties.
Speaking on August 16, 2025, the MPs accused Raila’s advisers of misleading him and warned that the move could damage his political legacy.
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Kitutu Masaba MP Olive Gesairo urged Raila’s inner circle to stop misguiding him, saying the ODM leader risks losing respect if he continues pushing for CDF funds to be taken to counties.
“Tafadhali, wale wanaomzinguka, msije mkaanza kumpoteza baba. Heshima yake isianze kushuka kwa sababu ya mawaisgadha mabovu ambayo mnampa. Na nimesema kama mwanachama wa ODM, mjumbe amabaye anamheshimu Baba na ambaye anamwona kama taa ya taifa hili,” he said.
“Tafadhali kusema kwamba pesa za CDF ziende kwenya kaunti, amesema sasa mashule ya kuwe devolved,” he added.
On his part, Mvita MP Mohammed Machele defended the CDF, saying the fund has operated for two decades without major accountability scandals.
“NG-CDF ina 20 years. Hatujaona ripoti kama zile zinazotoka kwa auditor general. Tumeona audits zimekuwa nyingi sana lakini hii yote ni kwa sababu ya siasa,” he said.
Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza dismissed calls to abolish or devolve the fund, insisting it will remain in place despite opposition from political leaders, including Raila.
“Ikiwa ni Senatore atapinga NG-CDF ajue ataenda ila CDF itabaki. Kama ni baba, ni shangazi atakayepingaajue ataenda ili CDF ibaki,” he stated.
Raila Odinga on NG-CDF
This comes a few days after Odinga renewed calls to overhaul the NG-CDF and the NGAAF, proposing that all funds currently managed under the two programmes be transferred to the counties.
Speaking during the 2025 Devolution conference, Raila argued that the move would enhance efficiency, strengthen devolution, and improve service delivery.
He noted that CDF was introduced at a time when Kenyans were seeking equitable resource distribution under an “imperial presidency” that starved many regions of development funds.
“Most of the work was left to harambees; when you needed to build a school, harambee; a dispensary, harambee,” Raila said.
“But the system has since changed. We removed the patronage model, adopted devolution, created a constitutional commission to allocate resources, and empowered Parliament on budgetary matters. In this new order, CDF is obsolete.”
He criticised the fund for distorting the role of MPs, saying their constitutional duty is to represent the people, legislate, and oversee the national government, not to distribute bursaries or construct classrooms.
“That is the work of counties,” he said.
