Ledama: Devolution Conference now a cartel’s annual party
By Kiprono Keileb, August 15, 2025Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has launched a scathing attack on governors, accusing some of turning devolution into a personal cash machine while sinking counties into debt and piling up pending bills.
In a hard-hitting statement posted on his official X account on Friday, August 15, 2025, Ledama called for the Senate to urgently convene its first-ever Oversight Summit to expose what he termed as the misuse of devolved funds.
“The Senate of Kenya must urgently convene its 1st Oversight Summit to lay bare how some governors have turned devolution into their personal ATM, drowning counties in debt and endless pending bills,” Ledama said.
He went further to dismiss the ongoing Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, describing it as nothing more than a gathering of corrupt networks shielding themselves from accountability.
“The so-called Devolution Conference? A cartel’s annual party for impunity, mocking the Constitution and spitting on the rule of law,” he wrote.
Annual Devolution Conference
The annual Devolution Conference, which brings together governors, senators, county executives, civil society groups and development partners, entered its second day today with corruption talks taking centre stage. The event, co-hosted by the Council of Governors and the national government, is themed around improving service delivery, innovation and economic growth at the county level.
However, the Narok Senator’s remarks have added a sharp political edge to the discussions, shifting focus to the alleged abuse of public funds in the devolved units. Pending bills have been a persistent challenge for counties, with billions owed to suppliers and contractors despite repeated directives from the National Treasury to settle them.
Ledama’s statement reflects growing public concern over the management of county resources, particularly following multiple audits by the Office of the Auditor-General that have flagged irregular expenditures. His call for an Oversight Summit signals an escalating push within the Senate to assert its watchdog role over the counties.
The Council of Governors has yet to respond directly to Ledama’s allegations. But during the conference’s opening sessions, several county chiefs defended their development track records, insisting that challenges in revenue flow from the national government often derail timely service delivery.
With two days of the Devolution Conference still to go, it remains to be seen whether the forum will address Ledama’s claims head-on or whether they will be left hanging as yet another unchallenged indictment of county governance.