Deputy President William Ruto has picked on yet another clause on the Building Bridges Bill to drive support away from the proposals. – By Gerald Gekara.
During a rally in Matungu, Kakamega county, on Saturday, January 30 DP Ruto took the BBI team to task over a proposal to raise the county revenue allocation from 15 percent to an impressive 35 percent of the national revenue.
He said the government is struggling to allocate the 15 percent already, casting doubt on whether the Treasury has enough to avail 35 percent of the revenue to counties.
“They are talking about raising the amount of money sent to counties to 35% of the national government’s budget. How will this be possible if the current 15% cant be sent…unless they are planning to perform some magic or Witchcraft,” said Ruto.
Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, the former Council of Governors complained of the sluggish allocation of the county revenue funds, that resulted in slow roll out of programmes in county governments.
“The delays have affected services and the lives of county government workers. We have not received allocations for October, November, December and January. The situation in counties is deplorable. We are left to make arrangements with financial institutions so as to pay our staff ,” Oparanya said.
Blame the Pandemic!
Treasury CS Ukur Yatani on January 13, blamed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the late disbursement of equitable share of revenue that is paid on the 15th day of every month.
So far KSh 133 billion has been distributed to counties representing 36% of the equitable and conditional allocations in the 2020/21 financial year.
