By JOB WERU and MUNENE KAMAU
Nyeri County residents have dismissed allocations proposed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) as meant to impoverish poor areas.
The residents claimed that less developed areas need more funds for infrastructural development, to help them compete favourably with other regions.
Mr David Ngige, the co-ordinator of Nyeri Social Forum, said the percentage of funds set for population parameter should be reduced to about 40 per cent from 60 per cent.
“This will help less populous areas get more funds to open up resourceful areas, other than just pump more funds to Nairobi, Kiambu and Kakamega which have been favoured by other devolved funds whose magnitude is determined by population density,” said Ngige.
Mr Mathenge Wanderi from Kieni urged the commission to reduce the allocation on population parameter to about 45 per cent and increase the vote on poverty to 20 per cent from 12 per cent.
The leaders were giving views during a civic education exercise on the proposed horizontal revenue sharing formula by the Commission. CRA Commissioner Prof Raphael Munavu chaired the exercise.
accountable leaders
And in Kerugoya town, Kirinyaga County, Munavu told the residents to acquaint themselves with the Constitution. He also urged the residents to elect accountable leaders.
CRA Commissioner Prof Joseph Kimura Thursday admitted that they are facing a challenge in determining the criteria by which to identify marginalised areas.
Speaking at Pumwani Social Hall in Nairobi, Kimura said it is tricky to identify counties that would benefit from the equalisation fund.
— Additional reporting by Felix Olick
