Governor Mutua now demands Duale replaced in mediation team

A governor is opposed to a leading MP taking part in the ongoing negotiations on the contentious Division of Revenue Bill, 2019.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has said the presence of National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale in the talks was fueling the differences between the Senate and the National Assembly mediation teams.

When the teams first met on Tuesday, the talks collapsed after the MPs engaged in a shouting match that forced adjournment of the talks to next week Wednesday.

Dr Mutua said Mr Duale had taken a hardline position and it would be in the interest of the country for Speaker Justin Muturi to replace him.

“We respect Duale, but feel that as the Majority leader, the negotiations are not at his level yet. His presence is not helping. Instead, it is igniting differences among Kenyans. We humbly urge him to recuse himself from the mediation process,” said Mutua.

In response, Duale said he will not be dragged into political sideshows but will instead stick to the issues at the heart of the talks.

"As members of the Mediation Committee of Parliament tasked with mediating and considering the Division of Revenue Bill No.2 of 2019, there are facts that cannot let be crowded by politics or sideshows," Duale said.

During the collapsed talks, the National Assembly stuck to the Sh316.5 billion it had proposed during the previous mediation talks, while the Senate insisted on Sh335 billion.

The National Assembly team led by Duale said the country would face a budget deficit of Sh25 billion if the county demands were met.

Duale said it would require budget cuts in the Government for the demands to be met.