Senators plead with MPs over Sh283.7 billion county finances

Senators have cautioned their National Assembly counterparts against plunging county governments into financial crisis by rejecting the mediated version of the Division of Revenue Bill.

The senators warned that rejecting the bill that was agreed by the mediation team, increasing funding to counties by a further Sh3.3 billion, would paralyse the devolved units.

They urged members of the Assembly to act in the interests of devolution by passing the bill.

Members of the House, who took a three-week break last week, said it was disheartening that some MPs were plotting to frustrate the bill and stick to Sh283.7 billion, which they initially allocated to the devolved units.

The chairman of the mediation team, Mbeere South MP Mutava Musyimi tabled the mediated version of the bill during a special session of the House last week, but debate on the same was postponed to tomorrow, when the House has been recalled for another special session.

"If this bill fails, it would have very serious financial implications in counties. There are some elements in the assembly who are now even arguing that this is a money bill and should therefore not have come to Senate. They must not frustrate this bill," warned Senate Finance Committee Chairman Billow Kerrow (Mandera).

However, Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando differed with MPs opposed to the mediated bill, saying the additional funding will help in bailing out Level Five hospitals, which are facing financial challenges.

"The revised Revenue Bill will benefit level hospitals like our Nyeri hospital, formerly known as a Provincial General Hospital," said Kabando even as he poked holes into the current revenue sharing formulae, terming it discriminative, punitive and prejudiced against high potential areas.

Siaya Senator James Orengo dismissed the MPs' argument that the Senate should not have any input in the bill.

"They (National Assembly) have the responsibility of bringing that bill to the Senate. We have the decision of the Supreme Court and they must not see it as a favour but a constitutional requirement on their part," said Orengo.

Laikipia Senator Geoffrey Gitahi Kariuki said the Senate must stand its ground and assert itself by lobbying for enhanced funding for county governments.

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama said National Assembly members must not frustrate efforts made in reaching the deal for more funding to counties, as they have done in the last two financial years.

Last year, the National Assembly rejected proposals by the Senate for more funding to counties. The year before, the House by-passed the Senate in consideration of the law and passed it to President Uhuru Kenyatta for assent without the input of the senators, leading to a protracted legal battle at the Supreme Court.

stop bickering

"We have justifications as to why we want this additional funding to counties. We may not have got the Sh7 billion we wanted but our negotiations yielded something in the Sh3.3 billion," said Muthama.

Yesterday, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto also urged MPs to allow the release of the Sh3.3 billion to county governments.

Mr Ruto asked the MPs to stop bickering over the release of the funds.

Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations in Bomet town, the former Council of Governors chairman said it was important for all leaders to embrace devolution.

"It is sad that counties cannot deal with disasters adequately due to the fact that the function is with the national government. We have seen what happened in Narok, Nairobi and Mombasa counties, yet those counties have no funds to deal with the disasters that befall them. This issue should be sorted out once and for all," he said.

The Governor also urged the national government to release roads funds to counties.