Counties will in the Financial year 2024/2025 be smiling all the way to the bank after parliament reached a deal to allocate them the highest amount of shareable revenue since the advent of devolution.
The Senate and National Assembly on Monday reached an agreement on the division of revenue share where Counties will now be allocated Sh400.1 billion of shareable revenue in the financial year 2024/2025.
This amount is Sh15 billion higher than the amount allocated in the current financial year where counties were allocated Sh385 billion.
This figure was arrived at following deliberation by members of a joint mediation team of the two houses after the Senate had been pushing for Sh415 billion for counties while the National Assembly wanted counties allocated Sh391 billion.
Members of the joint committee who met at Parliament buildings yesterday had at some point to take a break to consult following a heated exchange. Both Senators and MP seemed each to stick to their initial positions and after lengthy deliberations, the Senate agreed to climb down as the National Assembly adjusted its position upwards.
National Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Ndindi Nyoro who co-chaired the talks said the deal was a win for devolution since it was the first time that the two houses reached an agreement on the contentious issue. He asked governors to make good use of the funds allocated to their counties.
“The Senate has agreed to reduce their figure by Sh15 billion while the National Assembly has agreed to push up its earlier figure by Sh9 billion in the spirit of give and take so that we can resolve this matter and allow Counties to get their increased allocation from Sh385 billion in the last financial year,” said Nyoro.
The Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi who co-chaired the talks with Nyoro said they were proud that counties had gotten a Sh15 billion increase compared to the last financial year when they got Sh385 billion while the Senate had wanted them to get Sh30 billion extra by getting Sh415 billion.
Murungi said that the two teams had held lengthy deliberations and they were all in agreement that devolution was working and that it should be supported by ensuring that counties get sufficient funds to carry out the devolved functions calling for the respective administrations to ensure prudent expenditure.
The Division of Revenue Allocation Bill was published and introduced in the National Assembly on March 12 this year after which it was considered and approved without amendments on March 20 with a proposal of Sh391 billion for counties with the bill referred to the Senate for concurrence which amended with a proposal of Sh415 billion for the shareable revenue.
enate Speaker Amason Kingi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula appointed nine members each to sit in the joint parliamentary mediation panel.
Murungi and Nyoro were elected as the co-chairmen for the mediation committee.
Members of the National Assembly team included Nyoro, Teso South MP Mary Emase, Ugenya MP David Ochieng, Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto, Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi, Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu, and Garsen MP Ali Wario.
Kingi appointed Murungi, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, Machakos Senator Kavindu Muthama, Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute and Migori Senator Eddy Oketch to be members of the committee.
