AMINA: Raila absence emboldens political class to raid CDF

Immortal remains of the indomitable former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga sneaked into Parliament at the wee hours of Friday lay neatly on a set table where  ‘tearful’ legislators braved the morning chill to file past the lifeless body to pay last respects to a fallen hero and father of modern-day reforms.

Good riddance or sad loss of an indispensable leader, that was the question on the lips of many mourners as condolence messages trickled from leaders across the country and the world.

At the time of death in India, Raila and lawmakers were not the best of friends with impunity, authors and architects of regularising the irregular and legitimising the illegitimate.

From the frosty relations between the former ODM leader and legislators, one can confirm that the majority of political practitioners turned up not to mourn but to confirm whether it was true that Raila had gasped his last breath in the Indian hospital where he was admitted for treatment.

In fact, the Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga is one leader whose celebration reflected the proverbial crocodile tears of fellow leaders across the political divide. He has since paid a dear price for telling Kenyans the truth. 

Embarrassed by the revelation, the Council of Governors distanced itself from the utterances of the deputy chairperson and relieved him of the post.

Truth be said, the fallen hero and political practitioners viewed Raila as a stumbling block on the path to unquestionable plunder of national resources, notably the audit exempt, Constituency  Development Fund since converted into a cash cow by members of Parliament and their cronies.   

On account of conflict of interest in a democracy where the rule of law reigns, checks and balances are cherished, the court declared CDF illegal and unconstitutional, a verdict parliamentarians condemned in the strongest terms possible but upheld by Raila, the lone ranger in truth seeking. Even ODM lawmakers defied the party boss and participated in a mock public participation to endorse the enactment of the proposed CDF law, flaws notwithstanding.    

In response to Raila’s support of the court verdict, National Assembly members mobilised other elected leaders to undertake a participation exercise for the  Constitution Amendment 2025 that sought to entrench new funds into the proposed changes, namely,  the National Government Constituency  Development Fund,  the  Senate Oversight Fund and the  National  Government Affirmative  Fund. The newly created funds were seen as a bait and bribery of other leaders who could have opposed the proposed legislation.

With mandated constitutional roles on legislation representation and oversight abrogated by the elected leaders, who else in the country will play a watchdog role on excesses, abuses and plunder of national resources? Raila posed the question amid murmurs of defiant lawmakers.

Without a credible opposition voice in place after the former Prime Minister’s departure, leaders will get away with murder , as has been seen in bulldozing in the conspiracy to raid the national kitty and enrich the political class against rivals. 

The writer is a  freelance  journalist, [email protected]