Political temperature is once again on the rise as verbal sparring within the Orange Democratic Movement over the fate and future of devolution takes centre stage.
While ODM leader Raila Odinga publicly champions the principles of devolution, a wave of dissenting voices from his own camp has muddied the waters—raising questions over consistency, loyalty, and political strategy.
In a classic case of political doublespeak or internal contradiction, ODM governors and MPs have, in recent weeks, issued blistering attacks on the county system, criticizing it for inefficiency, corruption, and overdependence on the national government. At the same time, Raila has maintained his firm stand as a devolution crusader — defending it as the cornerstone of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
This political infighting has not gone unnoticed. The United Democratic Alliance led by President William Ruto, has seized the moment to slam the opposition for what they describe as “hypocrisy and sabotage of a system they helped create.”
Speaking during a recent faction’s event in Siaya County, Raila Odinga declared: “Devolution is not just a political idea; it is a constitutional promise. It must be protected at all costs.”
“The governors must be empowered. We fought for this system so that Kenyans could feel the presence of government at the grassroots. Any effort to undermine it — whether by national institutions or local leaders—is unacceptable.”
Yet, even as Raila spoke these words, voices from within his coalition were singing a different tune. Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, a close political ally and Raila’s elder brother, criticized some governors for mismanaging devolved resources.
“Some of these counties have turned into empires of corruption. We must not defend incompetence in the name of protecting devolution,” Oburu said.
Even more pointed was Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who accused some county governments of “hoarding money for political optics” and stalling critical projects for personal gain.
ODM is eating its own baby?
President Ruto, speaking in Bomet County, accused ODM leaders of duplicity.
“It is shocking that the same people who brought us devolution are now the loudest critics of it,” Ruto said.
“This is a clear case of eating your own baby.”
The President argued that devolution was working—particularly in UDA-led counties where governors have invested heavily in health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
“We are not perfect, but we are committed to making devolution succeed. Let those who no longer believe in it step aside and allow those of us who believe in service delivery to take the lead,” he added.
Ruto’s remarks are not without political undertones. With his administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) banking heavily on county-level interventions, he has a vested interest in strengthening the devolved units. Slamming ODM serves a dual purpose: it deflects criticism from his own government while deepening rifts within the opposition.
Orengo: “Don’t misread our criticism”
Siaya Governor James Orengo, a key ODM figure and long-time constitutional lawyer, came out strongly in defense of devolution and dismissed claims of internal disunity within the party.
“Criticism of operational failures within counties should not be equated to opposition to devolution,” Orengo said during a press conference in Nairobi.
“In fact, constructive criticism is necessary for institutional growth. We are not against the system—we want to refine it.”
Orengo further insisted that devolution remains the most transformative governance structure in post-independence Kenya.
“Those who think ODM is abandoning devolution are either misinformed or deliberately misleading the public. Raila Odinga has always stood for devolution—and that position should not change,” he emphasized.
Political analysts say the apparent contradiction in ODM’s messaging reveals deeper strategic dilemmas.
“This is not just about devolution,” said Prof. Macharia Munene, a political historian.
“It’s about political realignment, 2027 positioning, and internal power struggles. Raila’s allies are trying to be pragmatic, while Raila is playing the long constitutional game.”
Munene added that devolution itself has become a political football—used both as a scapegoat for governance failures and a trophy for political loyalty.
Dr. Winnie Mitullah, a governance scholar, said “many of these politicians are engaging in selective criticism”.
“When devolution works in their areas, they applaud it. When it fails, they blame the system rather than the leaders implementing it,” she said.
She warned that political contradictions threaten to erode public trust in devolution altogether.
“If leaders appear confused or divided, it gives room to national bureaucracies to claw back power. That’s dangerous.”
Devolution in the crossfire
At the heart of the matter is the future of Kenya’s devolution architecture. With increased calls for constitutional amendments, including debates on the structure of government and resource allocation, the political elite seem torn between reforming the system and defending the status quo.
Raila Odinga, is walking a tightrope. On one hand, he must uphold his legacy as the architect of Kenya’s progressive constitution. On the other, he risks losing touch with an increasingly restless political base demanding accountability.
His critics accuse him of shielding governors for political loyalty. His defenders argue that he remains the last national statesman standing up for devolved governance.
As the war of words escalates, one thing is clear — devolution is becoming both a political bargaining chip and a test of leadership credibility.
President Ruto is using the moment to project himself as the defender of devolution through development. ODM is caught between internal introspection and external criticism. And Kenyans, watching from the sidelines, are increasingly asking: is this about service delivery or political posturing?
