Raila Odinga: “Division of Revenue Bill a Betrayal of the People, an Attack on the Constitution”
In a strongly worded statement, Raila Odinga has condemned the ongoing standoff between the National Assembly and the Senate over the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2024.
He described the deadlock as a “power grab” and a direct assault on the constitution, accusing Members of the National Assembly of seeking to undermine the established structures of governance.
According to Raila, this impasse represents a “cruel betrayal of the people” and threatens to overhaul the fundamental principles enshrined in Kenya’s constitution.
Raila asserted that the seeds of this conflict were sown with the introduction of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), which are managed exclusively by Members of the National Assembly.
He noted that these funds have effectively allowed MPs to “conceive, implement, and oversight projects” single-handedly, a situation he believes is not only unprecedented but also unconstitutional.
According to Raila, this blending of roles undermines the separation of powers and creates a severe accountability crisis within the governance system, ultimately harming the interests of ordinary citizens.
Highlighting the core responsibilities of parliamentarians, Raila emphasized that the constitution clearly outlines three roles for MPs: representation, legislation, and oversight.
He argued that project execution and implementation are not, and should never be, within the purview of Members of Parliament.
Raila warned that by taking on these roles, MPs are dangerously overstepping their mandate, thereby eroding the checks and balances that are crucial for the health of the nation’s democratic system.
Raila further reminded the National Assembly of the constitutional provision that establishes two levels of government—the National Government and the 47 county governments.
He stressed that these counties are constitutionally guaranteed at least 15 percent of the National Government’s revenue.
He issued a stern warning to MPs, stating that any attempt to reduce the funds allocated to counties would be a direct attack on devolution.
“The National Assembly must get it clear that revenue allocation to counties can only go up, not down, unless the intention is to kill devolution,” Raila said.
More than a decade after the establishment of devolution, Raila expressed his disappointment that the management and funding of devolved units have not yet reached the desired levels of efficiency and predictability.
He called on Members of Parliament to act as defenders of devolution, urging them to resist any actions that would frustrate or sabotage the progress made in decentralizing power and resources.
“I urge our MPs to be enablers of devolution and refuse to be in partnership with those determined to frustrate and kill devolution,” Raila concluded.
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