Sifuna explains why he skipped Ruto’s Mukuru event
Sifuna explains why he skipped Ruto’s Mukuru event
President William Ruto on Tuesday handed over 1,080 affordable housing units to residents of Mukuru in Nairobi on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
He was accompanied by various top government officials and others drawn from Nairobi County. However, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was conspicuously absent from the handover ceremony.
His absence was noticed, with one of the senators approaching him to inquire why he skipped the event, yet it was within his area of jurisdiction.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Sifuna explained that he deliberately skipped the event because he believes housing is a devolved function.
He therefore vowed not to attend other affordable housing launching programmes spearheaded by the head of state due to his strong belief in devolution.
At the same time, Sifuna vowed on the floor of the house not to attend Ruto’s market launches, arguing that he also believes building markets should be reserved for county governments.
“We will resist any attempt to claw back on any devolved functions; that is why you did not see me yesterday at the handover of housing by the president, because I strongly believe housing is a devolved function,” Sifuna, who even failed to accompany Ruto for his Nairobi tour in March 2025, stated.
“That is why you will not see me at the president’s launch of markets, because that is a clawback to devolution. There is a senator who asked me why I was not at that place yesterday. It is because I believe in devolution, and this is clawback to devolution,” he added.
Sifuna’s stance on devolution and especially the building of markets aligns with what the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been advocating for.
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In early April 2025, Raila openly called out Ruto for usurping governors’ powers by taking over the building of markets. Speaking during an event in Mombasa, the former prime minister insisted that building markets should be reserved for governors since they are within their jurisdiction.
“What business does the national government have building a market in Majengo, Mombasa? That is a county function. The Constitution is clear,” he insisted.
Apart from markets, Raila has also unequivocally pronounced himself on the handling of money meant to build roads. In more than one instance, Raila has maintained that lawmakers have no business building roads.
His remarks come amid mounting tension between the Council of Governors and lawmakers over proposals to transfer control of billions of shillings from county governments to the national level through amendments to the Kenya Roads Board Act.
Governors have protested the plan, terming it an assault on devolution.
Raila is also opposed to MPs’ plans to entrench CDF in the constitution. Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Raila termed the ongoing public participation exercise null and void, making it clear that it must be subjected to a referendum.
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