ODM leader Raila Odinga has criticized MPs for allegedly frustrating devolution and has threatened to lead a campaign against the sitting MPs if they fail to release Sh500 billion in shareable revenue to counties.

For a man who has built his profile as a fierce critic of the past governments, Raila has changed his goalposts and has trained his guns away from Kenya Kwanza.

He claimed MPs are now competing with governors in trying to implement projects that are not within their mandate, while frustrating the release of resources to counties.

Speaking during the burial of former Kisumu Town West (now Kisumu West) MP Ken Nyagudi in Gem, Siaya, the veteran politician said devolution is not working because of the push and pull between national and county governments and the MPs have taken advantage of this to frustrate devolution.

“In this current constitution, parliament has powers on matters of budget-making, and now they want to play the role of county governments by doing county government projects,” he said.

He accused MPs of frustrating devolution and playing the role that is a reserve of the Governor’s.

According to Raila, it is absurd for MPs not to allocate funds to counties only for them to accuse Governors of not delivering to the people and corruption.

“Do not keep money with you and then you accuse Governors of corruption or not delivering. If a Governor is corrupt, we will deal with him but do not hold money. Governors must have money and power,” he said.

Raila said the court has pronounced itself and made a decision that CDF is unconstitutional and that decision should be respected by MPs.

He said the role of the parliament as per the constitution remains legislation and oversight, which they have abandoned and are now playing the role of contractors.

“There is a lot of money that is supposed to come to the counties but it is being held by the national government and also because of some other monies like CDF. MPs are still holding fuel levies that are meant to come to counties because they want to construct roads as contractors. They also want to construct hospitals and schools, which is not their role,” he added.

He argued that it was impossible for MPs to properly play their oversight roles if they are the contractors.

The Senate and National Assembly are currently in a standoff over sharable revenue to the counties. While the senators are demanding Sh400 billion for counties, the MPs want the money reduced to Sh380 billion.

The stalemate over a Sh20 billion difference has persisted despite the contribution of an 18-member mediation committee from the two Houses.

He was accompanied by Senator Oburu Oginga, who told Azimio Co principals Kalonzo Musyoka and others to accept that ODM has resolved to work with the government.

“Leave us alone Azimio co-principals. We have made a decision to work with Ruto. They should offer a better way forward to make Kenya better if they feel we made a wrong decision,” said Oburu.

Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi said it is time for the Nyanza community to pause and think politically.

He expressed confidence in the political decisions Raila had made in the past and even now.