Governors visit Mama Ida, hail the late Raila Odinga as ‘father of devolution’

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The Council of Governors (CoG) on Saturday visited Mama Ida Odinga and the Odinga family at their home in Bondo to deliver their condolences and celebrate the life and legacy of Raila Amolo Odinga.

The governors described the late former Prime Minister as the “Father of Devolution” in Kenya.

Led by CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir Governor), the governors expressed deep appreciation for Odinga’s lifelong fight for justice, equality, and people-centred governance.

They said devolution — one of Kenya’s most transformative achievements under the 2010 Constitution — stands as the clearest reflection of his political vision and determination to bring government closer to the people.

“There is no way the story of devolution in Kenya can be told without Raila Odinga’s name appearing on nearly every page,” said Mr Abdullahi. “He fought for fairness, inclusion and a Kenya where every region has a voice and a share of national resources.”

The delegation, which included both male and female county leaders, noted that Mr Odinga’s dream for an equitable nation began long before the 2010 Constitution.

While the concept of majimboism was introduced in the 1960s during the independence negotiations — when Mr Odinga was still a young student — the idea of devolving power to regions was one he later embraced, refined, and championed throughout his political career.

Governors said that although majimbo was once rejected and branded divisive, Mr Odinga’s consistent advocacy for fairness in resource allocation and representation eventually gave birth to the county system that Kenyans now enjoy.

“When the word majimbo became politically toxic, [Raila] Odinga reframed it into the national conversation on devolution. He gave it a new face--one about service delivery, participation, and accountability,” said Ms Gladys Wanga, the Governor of Homa Bay County.

Mr Odinga’s role in pushing for the 2010 Constitution was also highlighted.

Governors recalled how, during the constitutional review process, he stood firm on the inclusion of counties and protected the principle of equitable distribution of revenue.

Since the rollout of devolution in 2013, the former Prime Minister continued to push for better funding and protection of county functions from recentralisation attempts by the national government.

His public statements often reminded Kenyans that devolution was not a gift from the state but a right of the people.

“Baba reminded us that development must reach every corner of Kenya, from the mountains to the coastline,” said Ms Cecily Mbarire, the Governor of Embu County and the Chairperson of President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“He spoke about devolution not as an experiment but as a guarantee of dignity and opportunity for every citizen.”

The governors also noted that thanks to the devolution framework that Mr Odinga strongly supported, counties now directly benefit from national parks and reserves through shared revenues, community projects, and local investments.

This, they said, has created new economic lifelines for communities that were once left out of national development plans.

During the visit, the Council conveyed both comfort and solidarity to the Odinga family, describing the late opposition leader as a statesman who sacrificed personal comfort for the sake of national unity.

“May Baba continue to rest in eternal peace,” Mr Abdullahi said. “His legacy will forever live in the heart of our nation — in every road, clinic, and school that counties have built under devolution.”