The Former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga has called on the national government to devolve all the county government functions as stipulated by the 2010 Constitution.

Addressing delegates during the Devolution Conference that is going on at the Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County, Odinga castigated the National Government for retaining reasonable funds meant for County functions at the National Government level.

“Today, fertilizers are procured and distributed by the National Government, affordable Housing is being conceptualized and implemented by the National Government, the National Government wants to build markets and employ community health workers, all these are devolved functions whose monies should be released to the counties,” explained Hon. Odinga.

“Ten years into devolution, this tug of war between the Counties and National Government needs to come to an end, even more worrying is the continuing duplication of functions, more money continues to be spent at Afya House, Kilimo House and Maji House in Nairobi for roles that are devolved,” he emphasized.

The ODM Party Leader commended the Council of Governors for putting the interests of Kenyans first by setting aside political affiliations in the implementation of Devolution.

“I want to commend the Council of Governors, you have been able to find a way around our sometimes toxic and divisive politics and created a leadership that looks past party and political differences, I commend you for your ability to mend fences and build bridges and I encourage you to continue on this path of consensus building, mutual respect and decorum,” commended Hon. Odinga.

The opposition Chief praised Devolution for bringing live among Kenyans with Counties implementing several projects that have benefited Kenyans across the country in only 10 years something he said the National Government has failed to do in 50 years.

“Ten years into devolution, Kenya is a much transformed landscape with amazing opportunities for rural economic revival and transformation, there is now economic life in rural areas with some previously dead towns and market centres beaming with life after devolution,” explained the former Premier.

On timely disbursement of County Funds, Hon.Odinga called on the Controller of Budget and Central Bank to re-look at the law insisting the CBK must strictly implement the County Allocation of Revenue Act which contains disbursement schedules for County funds.

He cited bureaucracy at the office of the Controller of Budget as a major bottleneck to implementation of devolution.

On the concerns by Members of the County Assembly, Hon. Odinga said the issue should be addressed amicably.

“MCAs have real concerns like remuneration and facilitation that ought to be addressed in the interest of a harmonious working relationship with the county dream bearers who are the governors,” appealed Hon. Odinga.

When Assemblies and the Senate inquire into a matter, the best they can do is recommend investigation. When investigators complete their work, the best they can do is recommend prosecution. And there is of course no guarantee that the courts will punish the wrong doers.

On the war against corruption, the former Premier called for intensifying the war regretting that institutions mandated to fight the vice are weak especially at the County level.

“Let us worry over devolved corruption, oversight seems concentrated at national level, while graft stalks devolution at every turn, the interplay between oversight institutions like the County Assemblies, Auditor General, the Senate, and the investigative and prosecutorial arms is weak, and the institutions not working together,” he submitted.

Hon. Odinga challenged Governors to be proactive in the implementation of Devolution for the benefit of local Wananchi.

“Governors have to be practical, you will do well and set examples when you back up your pronouncements with concrete action at the level of policy and practice,” urged Hon.Odinga.

“You should be able to set up world-class investment and industrial regions along dedicated corridors of your counties to aid manufacturing, I want to encourage you to particularly promote labour intensive manufacturing because it puts money into people's pockets,” he advised.

Odinga used the Thursday address to castigate the US Ambassador telling him to keep off Kenyan affairs.