Mutua faults budget, says allocation to counties unconstitutional

Governor Alfred Mutua (pictured) has faulted the 2019/20 National Budget estimates presented on Thursday by Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich and called for a review of cash allocation to counties.

Mutua says the Sh310 billion allocated to the devolved units was equivalent to only 10.24 percent of the total National budget sum against the 15 percent constitutional threshold prescribed for the counties.

The Governor has warned of very difficult times ahead, saying counties will have been muzzled and their capacities to offer essential services will be diminished.

“It is a matter of great concern that as a country we have not really agreed about the division of revenue. Right now we are staring at a period of increased poverty, inefficiency where salaries will not be paid and essential services will stop because Parliament and the Senate have not agreed on division of revenue,” Dr Mutua said in a statement released to the press Friday afternoon.

He went on, “The constitution points out clearly that the allocation to county governments should be 15 percent of the national budget. What has been allocated is 10.24 percent. In other words, what is being set aside is actually unconstitutional,” Mutua who is also the Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader said.

Mutua challenged the two Houses to rise above partisan politics and vested interests and discharge their obligations in accordance with the Constitution and in the best interests of Kenyans.

He said it will be a big mistake if Kenyans backtrack on the gains so far made after the promulgation of the new Constitution. “At the end of the day there is a reason we passed a new Constitution and a reason county governments were created, so let us do things the right way,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Kenya Human Rights Commission filed an injunction in court seeking to stop the tabling of the budget estimates on grounds it was unconstitutional and illegal. In their application, KHCR had submitted that the Division of Revenue Bill must be passed before the tabling of the budget estimates.