Raila to senators: Oversight of governors belongs to MCAs, not Senate
By Cynthia Lodite, August 18, 2025Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has criticised the Senate for summoning governors over county issues, saying the mandate falls under the jurisdiction of Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), not the Senate.
The former Prime Minister called out Senators on Monday, August 18, 2025, during the ODM and Kenya Kwanza talks held in Karen, Nairobi.
“Oversight of governors is the responsibility of MCAs, not the Senate. Senate is wasting governors’ time by calling them to answer questions about roads in counties,” Raila said.
He further warned of a looming extortion trend by the legislators, which is giving the Senate a bad image, adding that legitimate lobbying is being overshadowed by perceptions of extortion.
“There’s lobbying, which is fine, but it’s different. Every committee seems to have a member tasked with ‘Welfare ya Wabunge’; this is tarnishing the image of the National Assembly as well,” Raila remarked.
He urged both Houses of Parliament to respect constitutional boundaries and restore public confidence in legislative processes.
Ruto calls out corrupt MPs
Meanwhile, Raila’s remarks on graft and extortions in the National Assembly echo President William Ruto’s remarks, whereby he opened what could turn out to be a clash between the Executive and the Legislature, accusing members of parliament of breeding corruption in demanding bribes from cabinet secretaries and governors.
President Ruto, while addressing the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, called out members of parliament who, he says, have turned house committees into money-minting rings instead of exercising oversight responsibilities.
On his part, the Head of State noted that parliament has turned into a den of graft while pointing directly to unnamed committees of parliament that he says have turned to extortion rings.
“It cannot continue to be business as usual. It cannot be committees of parliament demand to be paid for them to write reports or look the other way,” Ruto said.
The head of state again turned his salvos on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and demanded a crackdown.
“I have made it clear to EACC that there will be no sacred cows. There will be no phone calls from below or above to stop anyone from being prosecuted,” he added.