President Uhuru Kenyatta raises county allocation to 43 per cent of national revenue

President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Nairobi, Kenya: County governments will now receive Kshs 226.7 billion, representing 43 % of the national revenue according to a new law signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi Wednesday.

The Division of Revenue Act, 2014 raises the new allocation from the previous 15 % minimum threshold – which is a major campaign agenda for those calling for a referendum.

The new law also allocates Kshs 799.65 billion to the national Government of which Kshs 1.45 billion will go to conditional allocation for Economic Stimulus Package, Kshs 1.87 billion for Level 5 hospitals countrywide and Kshs 3.4 billion for the Equalization Fund.

The Act states that any State organ involved in an intergovernmental dispute regarding division of revenue or allocation shall – in accordance to Article 189 of the Constitution – make every effort to settle the dispute with other State organs before seeking any resolution of dispute through courts.

President Kenyatta signed the Division of Revenue Act alongside the County Governments (Amendment) Bill 2014.

The County Governments (Amendment) Act, 2014 among other things states that any person who knowingly and unlawfully obstructs, hinders, undermines or prevents the County Development Board from discharging its functions commits an offence and is liable – on conviction – to punishment by a fine not exceeding one million shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.

The President also signed into law the Counsellors and Psychologists Bill 2014.

The law provides for the training, registration, licensing, practice and standards of counsellors and psychologists and other connected purposes.

The Act also provides for the establishment of two bodies, Counsellors and Psychologists Board and Counselors and Psychologists Society of Kenya with administrative and regulatory powers.

The Counsellors and Psychologists Board will consist of 13 members and a Registrar appointed by the Health Cabinet Secretary to administer examinations and approve courses for purposes of registering Counsellors and Psychologists.

The Psychologists Society of Kenya – consisting of 10 members elected every two years during annual general meeting and a chairman – will issue standards of professional practice to society registered members.

The society will also protect, assist and educate members of the public in matters touching ancillary or incidental to the professions of counselling and psychology.