Raila: Senate should not oversee county govts
By Aloys Michael, August 14, 2025ODM leader Raila Odinga has renewed his call for stronger devolution, calling for a rebalancing of power between the national and county governments and criticising what he termed as overreach by the Senate in oversight roles.
His remarks come amid growing debate over the role of the Senate in holding county governments accountable, especially on matters of financial management and service delivery.
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.
“It is unnecessary for the Senate to be summoning governors to appear before senators in Nairobi.”
He argued that such actions undermine the autonomy of county governments and risk turning devolution into an extension of national politics, rather than a tool for grassroots empowerment.
Swift oversight
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.
Raila reignited national discourse on how best to implement devolution without compromising local autonomy or accountability.
The Homa Bay Devolution Conference, attended by governors, lawmakers, and development partners, continues to serve as a key platform for reviewing progress and charting the way forward for devolved governance in Kenya.