Senators now claim govt intimidating them over revenue formula

Some Senators now claim they are being intimidated to support the government position on the contentious revenue sharing formula.

The claims emanated from a tweet by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheiriyot who claimed Senators who voted for the amendment by Meru Senator Mithika Linturi woke up to their accounts being frozen and harassment from the Kenya Revenue Authority.

“A number of senators who voted in support of Sen Linturi’s amendment to the revenue formula report woke up to frozen accounts and fictitious tax demands from KRA. Shameful of the so called system. The resolve is firmer. Kenya must win this war against impunity,” he tweeted.

According to sources, at least two Senators have suffered the wrath of Government with Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and his Meru counterpart receiving messages from the taxman.

Reached for comment, Malala refused to confirm or deny that he was one of the senators targeted; only saying he is focused on the battle ahead of ensuring they pass the revenue sharing formula.

Deputy Majority Leader Fatuma Dullo who is among the Senators pushing for the Linturi amendment, said she is not aware as she had not checked her accounts.

“Why would a government target my account? That’s too personal. I have no issues with KRA and I don’t think they can come for me, my conscience is clear and I am only in the Senate to defend my county,” she said.

The formula has created a lot of political heat in the Senate with Senators failing to agree on 8 occasions amid a bitter fallout among hitherto political friends.

Senators are expected to meet next Monday to try and agree on the formula with Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani asking them to resolve the issue.

Ukur says the delay in resolving the issue is affecting disbursement of money to county governments but says if the stalemate continues for the next one month, they will be forced to disburse 50% of the shareable revenue to counties.