Raila Odinga cites graft as devolution’s greatest threat

ODM leader Raila Odinga (right) with Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during the devolution conference at Kakamega High School on April 25, 2018. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Odinga encouraged counties to explore the formation of economic blocs to speed up economic growth.
  • Mr Odinga urged governors to end the system of cronyism by only recruiting capable people.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga yesterday warned that the gains of devolution risked being scuttled by corruption in county governments.

Addressing the sixth annual devolution conference at Kakamega School, Mr Odinga sounded the alarm over corruption cartels in the devolved units and called for improved auditing of county resources to eliminate the vice.

NEPOTISM

The opposition chief lamented that some governors and county government officials were engaged in self-enrichment ventures at the expense of development in their respective counties.

“At this point, I wish to single out some very immediate threats to devolution and your tenures that we need to address this early," said Mr Odinga.

“Governors and the county public services continue to be accused of engaging in self-enrichment.

“Too many governors and their executives are viewed with suspicion by voters and many are under active investigation,” he went on, lamenting that nepotism and cronyism had creeped into most devolved units.

“And too many counties are failing to come up with clear pro-youth programmes to address unemployment.  People pursuing business with counties also talk of an elaborate network of County Assembly speakers, leaders of majority, county executives, county works supervisors and county clerks, among others, whose sole purpose is to make money from public projects. These officials have the capacity and audacity to paralyse, delay and stall development projects,” Mr Odinga said.

MCAs

He accused county speakers of engaging in conflict of interest as, often, they are the contractors while at the same time purporting to be carrying out oversight roles.

“The quest for cuts has also led to a craze for allowances by members of County Assemblies which is also paralysing counties. Governors have to pay for their Cabinets to be approved. To date, there are counties that are yet to form full Cabinets because of the standoff between governors and MCAs,” Mr Odinga said.

“We have to stop it or it will altogether kill our most important gift to ourselves ever since our fathers brought us independence. Sometimes, the idea of corruption is based on rumors and perception.

“But there are also cases where eyebrows have been raised because the lifestyles of people have changed overnight. The best way to stop rumours from assuming the pedestal of truth is for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to undertake objective lifestyle audits of suspects,” he said.

He added that most of the 47 counties are uneconomical entities and proposed the establishment of  a three-level government which could offer a lasting solution to the problem posed by counties which cannot sustain themselves.

14 REGIONS

“The Bomas Draft Constitution divided Kenya into 14 regions each made up of several districts. The intention was to create units with the size and population that made them economically viable,” Mr Odinga said when he delivered the keynote address during the fifth Annual Devolution Conference at Kakamega School.

“There is a need for the country to adopt a three-tier system that retains the current counties, creates regional governments and retains the national government,” he said.

Yesterday, Mr Odinga said time has come for the country to recover the original constitution draft even as he encouraged counties to explore the formation of economic blocs to speed up economic growth. 

“I laud the formation of the 14-county Lake Region Economic Bloc and appeal to the County Assemblies to co-operate and pass legislation to aid the realisation of the group. I encourage all counties that are exploring such formations to soldier on and call on their assemblies to cooperate.”

Mr Odinga said the governors will find it difficult to implement their manifestos in an environment clouded by the Big Four agenda some of whose aspects are devolved functions.