Millie Odhiambo urges Raila to stop favouring governors over MPs and senators
By Mabonga Makhanu, August 19, 2025Suba North Member of Parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has called out Raila Odinga, urging him to stop treating governors more favourably than legislators.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, during a debate on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Millie faulted Raila’s proposal to have the fund scrapped and the money redirected to counties, with MPs assuming their oversight role as outlined in the 2010 Constitution.
The legislator said that although she has long admired Raila for his commitment to equality and fairness, his position on CDF is misplaced. She further argued that Raila appeared to be siding with governors while overlooking the role of both the National Assembly and the Senate.
“There is one thing that I have admired about Raila, which is equality and fairness, but what is coming out from this House is that he is looking at governors more favourably than MPs and senators,” Millie said.
She went on to remind the ODM leader that both governors and MPs are his political children and should be treated equally. She also advised him to listen to the people on the issue of NG-CDF, noting that the ground strongly supports the fund despite his calls for its abolition. According to her, Raila risks making decisions that do not resonate with the public.
“We are your children; treat us equally,” Millie said.
Millie also took issue with President William Ruto, who, for the recent past, has maintained an onslaught on the parliament, accusing it of being an epicentre of bribes and corruption, warning him not to take the support of the parliament for granted.
Raila’s demands
Her remarks come at a time when Raila has openly criticised both the Senate and the National Assembly. On the Senate side, he has opposed senators’ push to continue summoning governors to appear before committees, insisting that oversight should be left to Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
On the other hand, he has called for the scrapping of NG-CDF, arguing that channelling the money to counties would strengthen devolution, an idea that has met stiff resistance from legislators across the political divide.