Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga now says that the Senate needs proper powers and responsibilities to execute its mandate, just like the National Assembly, whose work is to legislate, oversight, and represent the people.
Speaking during his meeting with the senators at the Senate Building, the former prime minister emphasized the need to make the Kenyan Senate work like that of the United States of America.
“Our Senate should be given proper powers. It should work like the Senate of the United States of America,” Raila Said.
Raila added that Kenya and the United States are countries with the same constitutional structures, but the system in the US is working better.
“You know, we have Countries with similar constitutional structures, and it works very well for them,” Raila added.
Role Of the Senate
Currently, the Senate’s role is largely advisory, with limited powers compared to the National Assembly, especially on budgetary matters.
Odinga suggested amending the Constitution to grant the Senate equal say on all bills, including those related to finance, which are currently in the exclusive domain of the National Assembly.
The proposal has sparked debate among lawmakers and political analysts. Supporters say it would reinforce the spirit of devolution and prevent the marginalization of smaller counties. Critics, however, caution that expanding the Senate’s powers could lead to legislative gridlock and duplication of roles.
Also Read: NSSF Responds to Attempted Hacking of Its Systems
Odinga’s remarks come at a time when discussions on constitutional reforms have regained momentum, with some political factions reviving aspects of the stalled Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which also advocated for a more robust Senate.
Whether the proposal gains traction remains a wait and see, but Odinga’s call is expected to influence the direction of future political discourse as the country navigates post-election reforms.
Raila Odinga On NGCDF
Raila has been a constant critic of National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), arguing that NG-CDF undermines Kenya’s devolution framework by allowing Members of Parliament (MPs) to control funds intended for local development, a role constitutionally designated to county governments.
Also Read: Two Listed Companies Issue Profit Warnings to Shareholders
He emphasizes that MPs should focus on legislation, representation, and oversight, rather than managing development projects. He has called for the complete abolition of NG-CDF, asserting that funds should be channeled directly to counties to strengthen devolution.
In April 2025, Raila reiterated his stance, stating that the NG-CDF must be abolished and funds sent to the counties.
He highlighted that the High Court of Kenya had previously declared NG-CDF unconstitutional in 2023, ordering its phase-out by June 30, 2026.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
