Raila calls for a referendum to scrap NG-CDF and review the country's devolution model

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has reignited debate on the Constitution, calling for sweeping reforms that would overhaul Kenya’s governance structures, abolish the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and pave the way for a referendum.

Speaking at the Katiba Day celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Raila said the time had come for the country to re-examine its entire devolution model, arguing that Kenya, with a population of about 55 million, does not need 47 devolved units.

“I believe the time has come to re-examine the entire model of devolution. For instance, Nigeria, with over 200 million people, has fewer states compared to the number of counties we have. I am not proposing the abolition of any county, but the provincial administration is a colonial relic that should be done away with,” Raila said.

He maintained that Kenya should consider a three-tier system of governance comprising national, regional and county governments, noting that such a model would deliver services more efficiently while addressing duplication.

On NG-CDF, Raila reiterated his call for lawmakers to surrender the kitty to county governments, saying Members of Parliament should focus strictly on representation, legislation and oversight.

“We are not supposed to be funding projects through NG-CDF when we already have two levels of government: national and county. If you are both an MP and a contractor, then who is truly carrying out the oversight role? I know this stand is making me unpopular, but I don’t care. I will stand my ground. Let the people decide the fate of NG-CDF in a referendum,” he said.

Turning his focus to institutions, the ODM leader accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the National Police Service (NPS) of failing Kenyans. He argued that these institutions have not lived up to the spirit of the 2010 Constitution.

According to Raila, the NPS has worsened matters since 2010, with rising cases of police brutality and abuse of rights.

“Some of the institutions of the 2010 Constitution have let the country down. The NPS has left us worse off than we were before 2010. Abuse of the right to life, torture, and denial of security have increased under their watch,” he said, contrasting Kenya’s police conduct with that of Tanzania and the United Kingdom.

He further faulted the IEBC, saying it had failed to secure the integrity of Kenya’s elections.

“The same issues that Kenyans faced in 1992 still hound us today. Confidence in the commission remains extremely low. Our elections are among the most expensive in the world — the cost per ballot is five times that of the US,” he noted.

As the country marked the 15th anniversary of the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, Raila insisted that Kenya must safeguard the gains made while boldly confronting areas that continue to undermine governance and justice. He urged citizens to embrace reforms through a referendum to align the Constitution with the country’s realities.