Senate, National Assembly attempt to resolve revenue bill standoff

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Senate and the National Assembly are rushing against time to resolve a standoff over the changes made to the Division of Revenue Bill, 2015, which determines how to share the national cake between the levels of government.

Parliament has only one week to pass the Bill and meet the April 30 constitutional deadline, failure to which both levels of government might face serious financial crunches over the delay.

The current impasse on the Bill has set the stage for mediation after the National Assembly rejected the Sh7.7billion adjustments made by the Senate to adequately resource counties.

If the Houses agree, Counties will receive Sh 291billion up from Sh283.7billion approved by the National Assembly, with Sh 259.7billion shared equitably among the 47 counties, while Sh30.1billion as conditional allocation.

This lasted development come, even as various devolution stakeholders urged county governments to exercise prudence in the management of public funds.

Further Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has demanded value for pay for Wanjiku, saying a lot of money is spent on salaries yet the output is minimal, taking issue with the sitting allowances paid to Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs).

Speaking on the side-lines of the ongoing Devolution conference in Kisumu county, Senators, governors and SRC chairperson person Sarah Serem, all concurred that counties should guard against wasteful spending and ensure Wanjiku gets value for money.

On the issue of the Bill, the Senate committee on Finance chairman Senator Billow Kerrow (Mandera) revealed that since the National Assembly has declined the increment by the Senate, the matter will go to mediation.

“The Bill is set for mediation. The National Assembly, which is the originating House does not agree with the adjustments made to the proposed law, we are headed for mediation,” said Senator Kerrow.

Under Article 112 of the Constitution, if one House passes an ordinary Bill concerning counties and the second House rejects, it shall be referred to a mediation committee appointed under Article 113.

“The speakers of both Houses Justin Muturi (NA) and Ekwee Ethuro (Senate) shall appoint a mediation committee consisting of equal members of each house to attempt to develop a version of the Bill that both Houses will pass, “explained the Senator.

The law stipulates that if the mediation committee fails to agree on a version of the Bill, within thirty days, or if a version proposed by the committee is rejected by either house, the bill is defeated.

Senators have vowed to ensure counties are properly resourced even as the issue of transparency and accountability at the counties remains a major concern.

Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), who is also the Senate’s Public Accounts and Investment’s committee chairman insisted that governors are yet to give him a proper reason why they are against accountability.

“It baffles to note that governors want more allocation to counties, yet they resist oversight. Article 96 (3) of the constitution empowers the senate to oversight national funds to counties,” said Dr Khalwale.