By Habil Onyango.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said that there is a need to strengthen devolution to benefit Kenyans.
Raila said that devolution which was brought against all odds where many people were opposed to it and many died for the course has not helped Kenyans.
“Devolution was brought against all odds, there are many people who were opposed to it, many people died as we fought to bring devolution to our country yet it has not worked or helped the people of Kenya,” said Raila.
“There is nothing wrong with the constitutional structure but only a few adjustments to make the devolution work,” said Raila.
“We want to see more resources being devolved to the Counties so that we can be able to deal with issues such as healthcare, infrastructural development which should be devolved,” he said.
“By doing this we will be able to see the resources going to the Counties rise to over 30 per cent to help our people,” he added.
Raila was speaking at the Governor’s Office after a consultative meeting with the ODM County delegates where he was hosted by Governor Glafys Wanga.
Raila at the same time revealed that the Country has been in a situation of conflict and there is an urgent need to find a solution to issues that are facing the country.
Raila said there is an urgent need to tackle the scourge of corruption and the emerging attitude of intolerance where people are being denied rights to engage, assemble and demonstrate.
Raila said that many have been abducted, confined for many days and some have even been murdered issues which are very worrying and must come to an end.
Raila also said that there is a need for equity in resource allocations to all counties within the nation.
“There is a need to deal with the scourge of ethnic discrimination and tribalism in the Country,” he said.
“We want to see men and women being given equal opportunities in every sector within the Country,” said Raila.
Raila said that there is a need to empower and give requisite knowledge and skills to the youths so that they can be productive.
“We must be in a position to enable our youths to access the Internet so that they can use it to create wealth through use of the Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
Raila called on Kenyans to remain united and speak in one voice as they tackle the challenges facing them.
“We have seen a lot of complaints in terms of service provision in health care, many patients are suffering beaches of the introduction of SHA, this is something that needs to be resolved so that our people can get proper medical attention,” said Raila.
“We have seen our Doctors, nurses, lecturers and students crying for various reasons, all these problems are solvable and we need to find a lasting solution to them,” said Raila.
The Homa Bay delegates however gave Raila a go-ahead with his mission to find a better formation for the party.
