Raila pushes for referendum to reshape Kenya's governance structure

President William Ruto led the Katiba Day celebrations at KICC, Nairobi on August 27, 2025. [PCS]

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is calling for a national referendum to review devolution and abolish remnants of the provincial administration.

Speaking during the Katiba at 15 celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Raila said the current two-tier system has its challenges that have affected the whole devolution process.

"Kenya, in my view, is too tiny; we are just five short of the United States, which is a continent. Nigeria, with over 200 million people, has 34 states, while South Africa has nine provinces," Raila explained.

According to Raila, the county governments should not be scrapped but expanded to comprise counties, regional governments, and the national government.

Raila further singled out the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), accusing it of undermining devolution by bypassing counties.

"Constituency is not a devolved unit. Devolution has two levels, national and county. It is not right for the national government to jump over the county government and create another unit below it," Raila said.

He yet again faulted MPs for implementing projects through NG-CDF while exercising oversight, terming it a conflict of interest.

"Parliament should do what is constitutionally mandated: representation, legislation, and oversight. If you are yourself a contractor and a member of parliament, who is oversighting you?" he posed.

According to Raila, it is time the issue is debated and agreed on whether Members of Parliament should continue managing public funds while exercising oversight.

"I know my position is unpopular, but I don't care. Over this issue, there is no compromise," he said.

On police reforms, Odinga accused the National Police Service (NPS) of undermining the Constitution by perpetuating human rights abuses instead of protecting Kenyans.

He argued that police brutality has worsened since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, despite reforms meant to transform the service.

"In my submission, some of the institutions of the 2010 Constitution have let the country down. The NPS, in my view, has left us worse off than we were before 2010," he said.