Raila Odinga Urges Senate to Stop Summoning Governors, Pushes for Stronger County Oversight

Homa Bay, August 15, 2025 — Opposition leader Raila Odinga has called on senators to stop dragging governors to Nairobi for questioning, insisting that county assemblies should take the lead in holding county executives accountable.

Speaking at the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, Raila said Senate oversight hearings consume valuable time and distract governors from delivering services. Instead, he proposed that Public Accounts and Investments Committeesquestion county executive committee members directly.

Rewards for Good Governance

Raila further suggested creating a rewards system to recognise counties that demonstrate prudent financial management and efficient service delivery. He also echoed President William Ruto’s recent criticism of MPs accused of extorting money from government ministries, saying Parliament must rein in rogue legislators to restore credibility.

Push for More Devolution

The ODM leader reiterated his support for limiting national government interference in devolved units and advocated for the transfer of more functions to county governments, particularly in service delivery sectors such as health and education.

Political and Legal Implications

Raila’s remarks are expected to rekindle debate over the role of the Senate in county oversight. While the Constitution grants the Senate a role in protecting devolution, critics argue that summoning governors often turns political and undermines county-level accountability mechanisms.

Analysts say his proposals could reframe the conversation around oversight and autonomy, setting the stage for further discussions on how to strengthen devolution ahead of the 2027 elections.