Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has directed leaders to cease criticising Siaya Governor James Orengo and Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o for their remarks on the broad-based government, urging them to leave the governors alone.
While boldly defending them, Raila said the two had not committed any crime as they were just commenting on the MoU between ODM and UDA.
''I don't see the reason why people are bickering. When Mr James Orengo talks, he’s talking on the basis of the MoU between ODM & UDA. He has not committed any crime, he’s got a democratic right to say what he wants to say. When Prof Anyang Nyong’o speaks about devolution, he’s talking the language of ODM,'' Raila said.
Governors Orengo and Nyong'o have been accused of undermining President Ruto's broad-based government.
Critics, including Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, claimed that the remarks and actions amount to political blackmail and sabotage of the administration's efforts to foster unity.
Orengo had criticised the growing collaboration between ODM and UDA. He referred to the partnership as an "abomination" and warned that it could associate the opposition with the failures of Ruto's administration.
Nyong'o was accused of frustrating devolution by alleging that the national government was neglecting county-level governance. The governor had criticised the national government for undermining devolution.
"The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA) need not exist if the national government is prepared to fully implement devolution," Nyong'o said.
Echoing Nyong'o's remarks, Raila admitted that while devolution was among the most important features of the MoU signed between the two parties, it was unfortunately not working.
''Devolution has not been implemented the way it should, that's why people are not reaping its benefits. We have devolved responsibilities, but we have not devolved the funds to give the counties the financial powers to implement those functions,'' Raila said.
Raila has blamed the national government for crippling the function of the counties by hoarding funds that are desperately needed by the governors.
The ODM leader has challenged the Kenya Kwanza government to streamline devolution for the benefit of development and economic growth.
