Kigame blasts Raila over stance on governors’ accountability
By Kiprono Keileb, August 15, 2025Presidential hopeful Reuben Kigame has launched a scathing attack on ODM leader Raila Odinga, criticising him for abandoning the fight for accountability and shielding county bosses from scrutiny.
In reaction to remarks Raila made during the ongoing Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on Thursday, August 14, 2025, Kigame said he was “deeply disappointed” by the opposition leader’s position on the oversight of governors.
“I am so disappointed by Raila. I regret voting for him in the past and viewing him as a people-centred leader,” Kigame said. “He and his team are not just dining with the government. He does not want governors questioned for looting from citizens or for non-performance? But some Kenyans will still vote for him if he announced he was running for president.”
Kigame’s sharp post on his official X account on Friday, August 15, 2025, came in response to Raila’s speech at the conference, where the ODM leader cautioned against what he termed unnecessary witch-hunting of governors and called for respect for the mandate of devolved units. Raila stressed that oversight should not be used to stifle county operations, remarks that appear to have prompted Kigame’s reaction.
The gospel singer-turned-politician argued that Raila’s latest stance is at odds with the ideals of transparency and good governance that he has long championed. According to Kigame, governors must be held accountable for every shilling allocated to counties, especially in light of persistent corruption allegations, stalled projects, and poor service delivery in several devolved units.
“Accountability is not a favour to the people, it is a duty,” Kigame stressed. “If leaders at the top are telling us not to question governors, then who will protect wananchi from theft and incompetence?” he asked
He further criticises Raila of abandoning his watchdog role as the opposition leader by aligning too closely with the government. Kigame said such political camaraderie undermines the role of checks and balances in a democracy.
The remarks have stirred debate on social media, with some Kenyans agreeing with Kigame’s stance and others defending Raila’s position as a call for balanced oversight that avoids political witch-hunts.
Kigame, who contested the presidency in 2022 but was disqualified on technical grounds before challenging the decision in court, has been vocal about governance reforms and citizen participation. He maintains that Kenya needs leaders willing to confront corruption head-on, regardless of political alliances.
“The fight against corruption cannot be selective. It cannot be silenced because it makes some leaders uncomfortable. The people deserve better,” he concluded