A close ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has indicated that Kenya could be moving towards a national referendum soon. This comes amid ongoing activity in Parliament that may lead to changes in the constitution.
According to reports by People Daily, this political movement is gathering momentum behind the scenes, with significant discussions happening between key figures pushing for reforms and Raila Odinga himself.Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo shared that there is a lot of political maneuvering happening privately.
Many influential players who want to see constitutional changes are arranging meetings with Raila Odinga.
However, she pointed out that Raila’s schedule is completely full, which has delayed these important talks about the referendum. Although she did not reveal details of the proposed amendments, close sources suggest that topics such as the country’s governance system, devolution, and election rules could be included in the discussion.
Millie Odhiambo’s comments help explain why Parliament moved slowly but steadily to approve new members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The MP also revealed that legislators from various parties want to meet Raila to talk about the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
Raila has been pushing the idea that the NG-CDF should be handed over to county governments, which has caused debate among MPs.Raila has warned MPs who want the NG-CDF to be formally written into the constitution through public participation exercises.
He said that no matter how many public forums are held, the final decision must come through a referendum. Raila argued that if the issue goes to a referendum, those pushing for the NG-CDF in its current form will lose. He explained that the bursaries and funds should be managed by counties, not through the current national setup.
The feelings shared by Millie Odhiambo suggest that many MPs want Raila to stop pushing for a referendum to put the NG-CDF in the constitution. She stressed that the NG-CDF is very popular, especially in rural areas where it has helped many people.
Millie said she would support a referendum on the NG-CDF to allow the public to make the final decision because many Kenyans understand what the fund does and its benefits.While the country waits to see what will happen with the NG-CDF, some female MPs have expressed frustration with the government over what they see as unfair distribution of public resources.
First-time MP Suzanne Ndunge from Makueni shared her difficult experience of almost quitting after she was denied funding for development projects, even after providing all the necessary information.
She felt stuck and unable to make progress despite her background in development.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara also criticized the government for setting wrong priorities. She claimed that politicians linked to the current ruling coalition receive most of the public resources, while those who left the Kenya Kwanza alliance are sidelined.
She pointed to the Women Enterprise Fund as an example, saying it was overtaken by the Hustler Fund, which was created for political reasons.Turbo MP Janet Sitienei said there should be clearer separation of roles so that MPs can focus on oversight, representation, and legislation, instead of handling too many policy-making tasks.
However, Millie Odhiambo defended the government, saying every administration has its own priorities based on its manifesto. She noted that even though she is not part of Kenya Kwanza, their bottom-up development agenda has influenced many current projects.
Nyawira Gitahi, director of the research group IDinsight, said Kenya is entering an important phase of digital governance. She emphasized the need for timely and well-informed laws that link public needs with national policies.
Strong leadership will be essential to create reforms that last and stand the test of time, she added. This period requires careful planning to ensure the country’s governance evolves to meet new challenges.
