Senate fails to agree on revenue formula for the 10th time

The Senate has for the 10th time failed to reach a consensus on the best formula to share revenue among counties.

This is even after President Uhuru Kenyatta personally intervened and promised to add Ksh.50 billion in the next financial year to cushion counties that were losing money through the implementation of the third basis revenue sharing formula.

In the talks between the President and the Senate leadership, it was also agreed that this financial year, the formula that was used last year will be applied to make sure no county loses.

When the proposals by the Executive were presented to the senators by Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio in a Kamkunji, the Senators insisted they needed more time to interrogate the issue.

The senators tasked the 12-member committee chaired by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetagula and his Nairobi counterpart Johnson Sakaja to interrogate the proposals and present a motion to the Senate for debate on Tuesday next week.

“Our issue has been the money, and money has now been provided, and our stand has always been that no county loses any money, now the committee must make sure that happens. We now need to do simulations and bring a motion to the Senate that will be passed,” said Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, one of the leading voices against the third basis sharing formula.

Mutula says they will now bring to the Senate a new formula that will take care of all counties just like they have been insisting.

Laikipia Senator John Kinyua is hopeful that finally white smoke is visible after the President intervened.

He says they will use last year’s formula this financial year, while using the Ksh.50 billion promised by President Uhuru Kenyatta to cushion losing counties next financial year.

Despite the renewed hope, there is a feeling some senators are using the issue to enhance their political careers.

Council of Governors chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya had threatened to close down counties by 17th of this month if the money will not have been disbursed to counties.