How the new equalisation policy will push the poor deeper into poverty

Angeline Shikokoti a widow at her house at Virhembe village in Shinyalu on April 3, 2018. She been bogged down by poverty. [File, Standard]

Two weeks ago, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) launched its new policy and criteria for sharing revenue among marginalised counties. The Equalisation Fund is a creation of the Constitution under Article 204. Money in the Equalisation Fund is public finance set aside to accelerate the level of services in marginalised areas to bring them up to par with the rest of the country. In truth, these people don’t just feel left behind. They are behind in many ways. From social development to infrastructure and the fund as its name suggests, would have equalised the region. Alas, that is at risk now.

Oddly, this fund has never taken off as anticipated despite allocations by the CRA. It was only in 2016 when President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that funds will be ready for disbursement but as of May this year, only slightly over Sh1 billion of the Sh14 billion accumulated over five years had been disbursed for various development projects across the 14 target counties.