Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto has stirred political debate on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, with candid remarks questioning former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s recent actions.

He expressed uncertainty about whether Raila’s decisions stem from age or the intoxicating influence of political power.

“Nimeeshimu sana Raila kwa muda lakini karibu sasa sijui ni uzee ama ni ninini unajua ata hii power mtu anaeza lewa nayo. Ulevi imeingia sasa sijui imetoka wapi,” Moroto said.

Moroto acknowledged Raila’s past contributions, recalling the former prime minister’s involvement in local politics and infrastructure.

“Tumekuwa naye… ata alikuja kufanyia mimi campaign wakati wa by election. Ata alipokuwa waziri wa kawi yeye ndie alitoa stima kutoka makutano mpaka …karibu kila mahali. Wakati aliingia mabarabara, akatengeneza, mpaka kuna mahali huko inaitwa Raila Road,” he said.

The MP, however, questioned Raila’s recent push on devolution reforms.

“Lakini sasa, ata hii mambo ya devolution ambayo tunaenjoy saaiii ni effort yake, mpaka ikafaulu. Hivyo, sijui kwa nini. Nini sasa imeingia saa hizi. Kuna kazi ya national government na kuna kazi ya county government,” Moroto added, highlighting the blurred lines between national and county responsibilities.

Debate over county funds

Moroto’s concerns echo a broader debate in Kenyan politics about the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF). Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, on the same day, declared the funds unconstitutional.

“I have raised this matter on the floor previously. Kenya must confront the truth: funds like the CDF and NGAAF are unconstitutional. Our Constitution has no provision for creating parallel funds drawn from the Consolidated Fund,” Omtatah said, arguing that the funds fragment public finances and entrench patronage politics.

Raila Odinga has consistently championed devolving power to counties, arguing that MPs should focus on oversight while counties handle service delivery. Speaking at the 9th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on August 14, 2025, Raila emphasised,

“The time has come for Kenya to devolve education up to secondary school. It makes no sense to see a Minister of Education inspecting primary school structures or construction in counties. That is the work that should be done by the governors,” he said, on county management of roads.

“There is no reason roads in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret and other towns cannot be managed by the governor. It does not make sense that somebody in Nairobi, called KURA, has to come.”

He also proposed channelling NG-CDF and NGAAF funds to counties, stating, “Most of the work was basically left to harambees. When you needed to build a school, harambee; a dispensary, harambee.”