Date: April 24, 2025
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna speaking to Citizen TV on July 25, 2024
Nairobi, Kenya – Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused Members of Parliament (MPs) of engaging in political blackmail targeting Senators and Governors in a heated dispute over the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) allocations. Sifuna, who also serves as the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), described the MPs’ actions as “selfish” and “damaging to devolution,” as tensions escalate over the equitable distribution of road funds.
Speaking on Thursday morning during a press briefing in Nairobi, Sifuna didn’t mince his words as he condemned what he termed a deliberate attempt by MPs to sabotage counties by withholding or threatening to cut funds under the guise of development priorities.
“What we are seeing is not just unfair — it is blackmail, pure and simple. MPs want to control what doesn’t belong to them. The RMLF is meant to go directly to the counties through the Kenya Roads Board (KRB), not through the hands of MPs,” said Sifuna.
The RMLF Battle: Who Controls the Roads?
At the center of the storm is the Road Maintenance Levy Fund, a critical infrastructure kitty funded by fuel levies and meant for the maintenance and development of roads across the country. According to the law, the Kenya Roads Board disburses these funds to agencies such as Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), as well as to county governments.
However, Sifuna alleges that MPs are using KeRRA as a political tool, pushing for more say over how these funds are allocated — especially in rural areas — and who implements the road projects.
He claims that some MPs have resorted to intimidating governors and senators, threatening to block projects in their counties if they don’t get a say in road tenders.
Senators and Governors Pushed to the Wall
“Senators are being vilified for insisting that funds be distributed fairly and transparently,” said Sifuna. “We will not sit back and watch MPs bully the Senate or county executives simply because they want to reward their cronies with road contracts.”
Governors from various counties have also raised the red flag, claiming that their development plans are being frustrated by MPs who want to micromanage KeRRA funds, bypassing county development committees.
The Council of Governors (CoG) has echoed Sifuna’s sentiments, with several county bosses urging Parliament to uphold the principles of devolution and fiscal independence. Some governors have accused MPs of prioritizing political patronage over public service, especially in areas where MPs are angling for reelection or future gubernatorial seats.
A Call for Legal Review
Sifuna is now calling for a legal review of how the RMLF is handled to prevent continued abuse and overreach by Members of Parliament.
“We need to amend the Roads Act to clarify roles and prevent this power struggle that keeps recurring every financial year. MPs should not act as procurement officers or project managers. That’s not their job,” Sifuna stated.
He further called on the Kenya Roads Board to publish detailed expenditure reports and ensure transparency in road project funding. According to Sifuna, the opacity surrounding KeRRA’s operations has made it easier for politicians to manipulate the system and use development as a campaign tool.
