Minutes after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has issued fresh demands to the government, focusing on increased funding for counties and political parties.
Speaking at KICC on Friday, Odinga demanded that the government allocate no less than Ksh 450 billion to counties in the next financial year.
Odinga assured that he would table a proposal to ensure this is implemented, asserting that the move would strengthen devolution in the country.
Additionally, Raila called for increased funding for political parties, which he described as key pillars in reinforcing public trust in the government.
"We commit to strengthen devolution as a machinery for ensuring a more inclusive development across the country," he said.
"In this regard, we will be tabling a proposal, to ensure that counties get not less than Ksh 450 Billion in the 2025/2026 financial year. We will also seek the flow of funds to political parties being vehicles in channelling the hopes and aspirations of the people," he said.
Ruto and Odinga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see their parties work together.
According to Odinga, the signing of the MOU is aimed at easing the political tension in the country and reinforcing unity among people by resolving some of the pressing matters that have been recurrently punching the country for decades.
"The MOU aims to ease the prevailing tensions in the country, reconcile the populations, and move the country forward by addressing the critical social, political, and economic issues our people are grappling with," he said.
Following the signing of the MoU, Odinga further assured that leaders from the two parties would hold regular consultative meetings to review and reflect on ways to strengthen the country's governance.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to championing fundamental rights for Kenyans, including free speech and assembly, while ensuring the preservation and upholding of the rule of law.
"We will use this platform to revisit the constitutional provisions on leadership and integrity, corruption, and fundamental rights such as free speech, protests, and assembly, as well as the preservation of the rule of law," he said.
"We recognise that many of the issues this country is struggling with are as old as the country itself. It will take mutual trust between leaders and the creation of a conducive environment for them to be tackled with honesty and objectivity in a broadly constructed formation," he added.
Other key agreements reached between the two leaders are the full implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, addressing youth unemployment, and the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule.
