Africa-Press – Kenya. Senators are now supporting governors’ push for higher allocation to counties, even as they warn against wastage and wanton graft.
The lawmakers said they will defend the interests of the devolved units if state agencies fail to strike a deal on the allocation.
“The role of the Senate is to safeguard the interest of the counties and their governments,” Kirinyaga Senator James Murango said.
The senator called for a meeting of stakeholders – including the presidency, Commission on Revenue Allocation and CoG – to agree on amount to be allocated to counties.
“They should not always bring these wars to the Senate. Why can’t the presidency, CRA and CoG sit and agree? Why is it that this war has to always come to the Senate?” Murango said.
The senators spoke at a time when the CRA and the CoG are locked in a tussle over the proposed allocation to the devolved units in the 2024-25 financial year.
The revenue agency has proposed that the counties get Sh398 billion in equitable share in the next financial year – an increase of Sh13 billion from the current allocation.
However, the governor’s council has disputed the proposal and, instead, demanded Sh450 billion.
“The CoG proposes at a minimum the county equitable share to be Sh450 billion for the FY 2024-25,” CoG chairperson Ann Waiguru said in a statement to newsrooms Friday.
“This will factor in adjustment for revenue growth, adjustment for inflation and the road maintenance levy projected allocation of Sh10.52 billion.”
Senator Wahome Wamatinga said the Senate will stand with devolved units to ensure development in the regions.
“For devolution to work, we must send resources to counties. We cannot allow the national government to continue clawing back on devolution by retaining a lot of money at the centre,” he said.
The Senate Energy Committee chairman said senators also push for release of all pending devolved functions and the accompanying resources to ensure Kenyans benefit.
“Counties cannot be slaves of the Executive. The government must release functions and resources to the county governments,” he said.
The lawmakers have accused the county bosses of using them as ‘bulldozers’ to secure funds only to turn against them when they demand accountability for the same.
“Governors are using us as bulldozers to clear trees to build roads. Once they get the money, they don’t want to account for it,” Murango said.
He said the county chiefs have turned senators into their enemies whenever they are invited or summoned to the Senate to account for billions of shillings sent to them.
“They must account for the money. In fact, [the] Controller of Budget [Margaret Nyakang’o] should only approve withdrawals of funds if they see physical location of these projects. There are a lot of ghost projects in counties,” he said.
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, who said governors have become mini ‘gods’, cautioned them against wanton wastage and graft in their administrations.
According to the senator, some governors are misusing and embezzling public money meant for development projects.
He said some governors have resorted to hiring of choppers and living large at a time their constituents are wallowing in poverty.
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