Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has sharply criticized the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), accusing the party of enabling the Executive to retain control over Ksh80 billion allocated under the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
His remarks follow a recent High Court ruling that declared key sections of the Kenya Roads Board Act unconstitutional.
In a strongly worded statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on June 6, Salasya claimed ODM’s praise for the court’s decision masked a deeper betrayal. “ODM is a useless party,” he wrote. “They celebrate peanuts for counties while allowing the presidency to hold onto the lion’s share. This is not devolution—it’s a political con.”
Salasya was reacting to a judgment delivered on June 5 by Justice Mugambi, who ruled that Section 6 of the Kenya Roads Board Act violated several constitutional provisions, including those related to devolution and division of functions between national and county governments.
The judge also nullified the National Assembly’s decision to exclude counties from the RMLF allocations in the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 budgets.
While ODM leader Raila Odinga and Senator Ledama Olekina praised the ruling as a win for devolution, Salasya dismissed their statements as empty rhetoric.
He argued that control of the fund remains concentrated in the Executive and warned that the funds would be distributed along political lines to counties loyal to the presidency.
“This ruling does not empower counties,” Salasya said. “It empowers the president to reward allies and punish dissenters. It’s the same old politics in a new coat.”
Salasya, known for his populist messaging, accused political elites of sidelining rural areas where poor road conditions continue to plague residents. He argued that the previous system, through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), ensured relatively fair distribution from the national level down to constituencies. Now, he fears favoritism will dominate allocations.
As rains worsen road conditions in rural Kenya, Salasya lamented the ongoing neglect. “Our people are trapped in mud and dust while leaders toast victories in Nairobi,” he said.
Promising a new political era in 2027, Salasya declared, “In my presidency, money will go straight to the grassroots. No middlemen, no patronage.”
The battle over the Ksh80 billion fund has reignited public concern about whether devolution is genuinely serving ordinary citizens—or merely reconfiguring power without real change.
By PeopleDaily