Political parties reject Sh344m allocation, set new demand

By Geoffrey Mosoku

NAIROBI, KENYA: Political parties have rejected treasury’s allocation of Sh344 million to their kitty and are instead demanding Sh2.4 billion.

The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) which brings together all the registered political parties demanded that the allocation be increased in accordance to the law.

The political party’s act 2011 states that allocation to the kitty shall be calculated at not less that 0.03 percent of the country’s total revenue, with the Sh344 million being far much below the estimated figure.

 “In accordance to the law, the amount should have been 2.4 billion shillings and we are going for nothing less of that figure,” CMD chairman Omingo Magara said.

Magara was speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday after he formally took office from outgoing chairman Justin Muturi who is also speaker of the National Assembly.

Muturi supported the quest for more funding to parties saying t article 92 of the constitution creates the fund with the political parties act setting the minimum percentage.

The speaker said that Kenyans voted in favour of the new constitution which has anchored the provision for the fund which has to be adhered to.

“Article 92 of the constitution creates the fund which the act sets at 0.03 percent of national revenue. That particular requirement of law has not been complied with and CMD must push for it,” he said.

Muturi asked the political party caucus body to engage parliament and its organs citing the departmental committee on justice which they have to work with.