President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tue met the senate leadership, ahead of the 10th debate on revenue allocation standoff
In attendance at the morning meeting at statehouse were Majority leader Samuel Poghisio, his deputy Fatuma Dullo, Majority Whip Irungu Kangata and his deputy Farhiya Haji, Minority leader James Orengo, Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and his deputy Beatrice Kwamboka.
By the time of reporting speaker Kenneth Lusaka had not arrived as its understood he was chairing a senate house business committee to set house business.
However, minority whip was conspicuously absent in what looks like being overlooked due to his stance in the standoff.
Heated exchanges are expected as senators reconvene for a record tenth time on Tuesday to debate and vote on the contentious third basis for sharing county revenue.
Senators have accused Speaker Ken Lusaka and President Uhuru Kenyatta of holding the Senate at ransom as another meeting on revenue sharing formula aborted yesterday.
Several senators attributed the aborted Speaker’s Kamukunji (informal sitting) to the indecisive leadership of Lusaka and the house leadership.
“The Speaker must now offer leadership by putting his foot down. We cannot have one agenda dragging on for this long and the Senate receiving the flak on behalf of the indecisive leadership,” said a senator who sought anonymity.
Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Makueni) and Ledama ole Kina (Narok), both members of ‘Team Kenya”, criticised the speaker for not taking charge of the process as earlier communicated.
The senate 12-member committee gave two contradicting reports with one proposing that Sh273 billion of the Sh316.5 billion allocated to the 47 counties in the budget be shared out equally.
It states that the remaining Sh53.5 billion be subjected to the eight-parameter formula, with the biggest weight placed on basis share (20 per cent), health (18 per cent) a population (18 per cent) and agriculture (10 per cent).
It projects that in 2021-22, the Treasury would allocate the counties Sh325 billion, Sh331 billion in 2022-23 and Sh341 billion the next financial year.
Contrary the other side, which has received the backing of senators supporting the ‘One-man, One-shilling’ provides for 10 parameters.
It places the biggest weight on health (20 per cent) and basic share (20 per cent), population (16 per cent) and agriculture (12 per cent). Some 16 counties are losing more than Sh15 billion in this proposal.
The house leadership will brief the president on the development and steps being undertaken to resolve the stalemate.
Earlier members of parliament had called on the president and ODM leader to reign in and resolve the standoff that has starved counties and almost grounding operations.
Opinions by senators and MPS to present a proposal in parliament that will allow counties to access 50% of the allocation on the basis of last audited accounts.
The house resumes formal sittings on Tue at 2.
