Gideon calls on senators to rise above self-interest and end revenue sharing formulae stalemate

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has called on leaders to prioritise needs of the people and work towards improving their lives.

Speaking in Barwessa in Baringo County during the opening of of Sh82 million Barwessa Health Centre maternity wing, Gideon said leaders have a duty to ensure their people benefit first.

He called for an end to the stalemate at the Senate over the county revenue sharing formula so that counties can get funds for development.

“As leaders, our first duty is to serve the people and ensure they benefit first. We should prioritise needs of our people as they are the ones who have employed us,” he said.

The Senate has met nine times and failed to reach consensus on the third generation revenue sharing formula. It is then that a 12-member committee was formed to come up with an agreeable solution.

He hinted that all Rift Valley counties would see a rise in their revenue allocation.

The senator said he has a lot for the people of Baringo through the Local Content Bill, which he sponsored. The residents will get revenue from resources in their county. Baringo, he said, would get between Sh4 billion to Sh5 billion annually.

The Bill requires extractive companies to state how local communities will benefit from the proceeds before they are licensed.

It enhances ownership, control and financing connected with the exploitation of gas, oil and other minerals by local communities. During the first House of Senate, Gideon served as the chairman Parliamentary Committee on Energy during which he authored the Bill described as the most progressive law ever drafted on the extractive sector.

The Bill saw Gideon voted the legislator of the year in the Oil and Gas Awards 2017 for exceptional legislation that has positive impact on the lives of the people.

Gideon said it was time leaders shifted focus to assisting the people. On the ongoing 2022 politics, the Senator said he was doing his math.