Kitale, Kenya: The National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has cited lack of consultation as the cause of the stalemate over the Division of Revenue Bill 2015.
Muturi said there was no consultation among the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), Council of Governors, Parliament and the Senate.
He, however, assured Kenyans that lawmakers in the two Houses would agree on the Sh3 billion difference and pass it to avoid paralysing the county operations.
The Speaker said the tussle is unnecessary and called for a sober approach to iron out the differences.
"There should have been deep consultations among the CRA, the two Houses and the Council of Governors in arriving at an amicable solution to the dispute," said Muturi.
Speaking at St Brigid Girls High School in Trans-Nzoia County during a funds drive in aid of the institution, Muturi said, "There is no reason to have a tussle in the debating of this important subject. We should not subject the counties to this kind of uncertainties."
Governors Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Patrick Khaemba (Trans-Nzoia) and Pokot's Simon Kachapin had sought the Speaker's intervention to stop the row.
"I'm certain the two Houses will agree on the difference of Sh3 billion. The amount is small and this money is not going to individual pockets but to help counties deliver services to the public," said the Speaker.
"If it means amending the Act to allow the county assemblies prepare their budgets, then let it be."
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula and MPs Chris Wamalwa, Wafula Wamunyinyi, Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Janet Nangabo, Samuel Moroto and Enock Kibunguchy asked for more money to the counties to help improve service delivery.
Meanwhile, Muturi dismissed claims of a looming constitutional crisis if the gender bill is not passed by August 27.
He said there are provisions in the Constitution to extend the bill's legislation by one year.
"If the date finds us undecided on the bill, the Parliament will evoke sections of the Constitution to push the legislation period," he said.
He added that he was optimistic the lawmakers would strike a balance to pave way for the implementation of provisions for fair representation.
Nangabo, the Trans Nzoia woman representative and nominated senator Beatrice Elachi called for fair representation.
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