The Council of Governors, Senators and Members of County Assemblies are planning a twin assault against Treasury on Monday over division of revenue saga.
While part of them will be holding a public demo outside the National Treasury, others will be filing for an advisory opinion on the matter at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.
They are protesting against the move by the national government to slash revenue allocation to the devolved units from Sh335 billion to sh310 billion in the 2019/2020 financial year.
On Friday, their leadership converged in Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega town during the passing out of 400 community administrators and 3,500 county youth service officers. They vowed to stay the course.
Governors Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Ali Roba (Mandera), Cornel Rassanga (Siaya), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Mwangi wa Iria (Muranga) and Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma) were in attendance.
Others were Senators, Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Naomi Shionga (nominated) and Gertrude Musuruve (nominated). MPs, Elsie Muhanda (women rep-Kakamega), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Godfrey Osotsi (nominated) among other leaders.
According to Malala, the leadership of the Senate, MCAs caucus and the Council of Governors met on Wednesday and agreed to marshal their fellow leaders for the demonstrations.
Governor Wangamati echoed the senator’s sentiments by lashing out at the MPs for working with the national government to kill the intended spirit of devolution, adding that they are a disgrace to the electorate.
“What is happening now is a replica of what happened in 1966 when the independence government abolished senate and killed Majimbo system of governance. Devolution is here to stay and we will fight for it in the streets as from Monday,” said Wangamati.
“We want Sh335 billion to counties as recommended by the Commission Revenue Allocation (CRA). The cash was slashed by Sh21 billion and that’s unfair since counties handle critical dockets like manufacturing, housing, agriculture and health,” Wangamati added.
Wangamati who is also the Council of Governors (CoG) chair of Committee of Finance, Economic Planning and ICT, said they will also move to the court to compel the government to stop slashing money meant for counties.
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