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New Revenue Allocation Formula

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Senator Malala’s Bank Accounts Frozen Over His Stand on County Revenue Formula

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala and his Meru counterpart Mithika Linturi are among the senators who woke up to frozen bank accounts.

Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot on Thursday August 13, 2020 had claimed that a number of senators who voted in support of Senator Linturi’s amendment to the revenue formula report had woken up to frozen bank accounts and fictitious tax demands from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Linturi had moved an amendment to Nairobi counterpart Johnson Sakaja’s proposal on the disputed formula fronted by the House Finance committee which a section of Senators argued that was not favourable to “poor” counties.

He proposed a reduction to the baseline (equal share) from Ksh316.5 billion as proposed by Sakaja to Ksh270 billion.

Malala in an interview with the Star confirmed that indeed his accounts had been frozen but he had chosen to remain silent instead.

“Yes (my accounts have been frozen), but I have decided to remain silent on the matter though I remain firm on my decision to save Kenya,” he was quoted by the local daily.

On Tuesday, the Senate failed for a record eight-time to agree on how the Ksh316 billion from the national government should be distributed in counties.

The senators are set to reconvene today to debate on other proposals fronted by Senators Petronilla Were (nominated), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu) and James Orengo (Siaya).

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Politics

How Sakaja Arrived in Parliament at 5am to Escape an Arrest

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on Tuesday August 4, 2020 said he had endured one of the most difficult weekends.

Sakaja who was speaking on the floor of the senate said he was trailed by police officers the entire weekend.

At some point, the officers camped outside his home waiting to arrest him.

“On Friday, I was being trailed by police officers in a vehicle registration number KBZ 317W and I saw them and they left. I raised it with the IGP but he didn’t t respond,” Sakaja said on the floor.

He narrated how he arrived in Parliament at 5am to escape an arrest that had been orchestrated to ensure he did not show up in the chamber for the debate on a motion that he had moved to amend the committee’s formula.

In the amendment, whose debate was adjourned last week, Sakaja is pushing for a formula that places the Sh316.5 billion allocated in the last financial year as the base.

Later, Sakaja told a local daily there was a plot to arrest him over his recent scuffle with Kilimani police officers for flouting the curfew.

“On Monday morning, I got out very early. I wanted to get papers at Total petrol station. When I got out, I saw a vehicle, then they put on the headlights. So, I said, let me move back. I went left and moved fast and switched off my phone, took papers and came back.

“In the evening, I was meeting some colleagues at Radisson. Senator Farhiya Ali (nominated senator from Nairobi) tells me that she was told I should not come to the chamber so that Beth Mugo votes on behalf of the Nairobi delegation. But I told her that I will. It was there that I learnt they didn’t want me to come to the chamber,” he was quoted by The Star.

The plan, according to the senator, was to arrest and detain him and charge him for allegedly assaulting Kilimani police officers.

But Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio and Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kanga’ta challenged those claiming intimidation and threats to substantiate.

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Politics

Raila Breaks Silence on Revenue Sharing Formula, Offers Long-lasting Solution

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila odinga has issued a detailed statement on the revenue sharing formula that has caused a standoff in the senate.

Raila in a statement issued on Monday July 27, 2020 has accused the senate of failing to adopt its own amendments to the third basis formula for sharing revenue from the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA).

The former Prime Minister argues that the senate standoff is causing paralysis and mistrust at a time Counties need to be united and singularly focused on fighting Covid-19.

Raila says the current standoff in the senate is a variation of what was recommended by the CRA, the body mandated under article 216 (1) of the Kenyan Constitution, to come up with the formula.

Raila notes that the revenue should be population driven.

He says the CRA recommendation is based on an understanding that County governments are about service requirements of the population including in health, agriculture, infrastructure, education among others.

Under the circumstances, Raila says, the country would be better served if the senate adopted the recommendation of the CRA for the next five financial years.

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In order to avoid similar standoffs next time, Raila says that the concerns currently arising should be forwarded to the CRA for consideration in its future recommendation.

However, the African Union envoy notes that Counties must be encouraged to raise their own source revenues from the economic activities within the counties and demanding a prudent usage of those resources.

He says the senate should allow the country move forward by adopting the CRA report while using the concerns raised for future recommendations on revenue sharing.

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Moses Kuria Exposes Dirty Intrigues Played in The New Revenue Allocation Formula

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has exposed the dirty intrigues that are being played in the new revenue allocation formula that has caused division in the senate .

Taking to his official Facebook account this morning, Kuria claimed that in the 2017 General Elections, Kiambu County had 1,173,593 registered voters.

He argues that Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo and Marsabit had a combined 718,940 but in the existing formula for resource allocation, Kiambu gets Ksh 9 billion while the five Counties get combined Ksh 45 Billion.

The controversial lawmaker is now demanding for an explanation where justice and fairness lies in he current revenue allocation formula.

“In the 2017 General Elections, Kiambu County had 1,173,593 registered voters. Mandera, Garissa and Wajir, Isiolo and Marsabit had a combined 718,940. In the existing formula for resource allocation, Kiambu gets Ksh 9B. The 5 Counties get combined Ksh 45 Billion. Someone please look at me in the eye and explain to me like a two year old where justice and fairness lies here. With all humility please,” reads Kuria’s Facebook post.

Most senators want no county to lose a single cent in the new revenue sharing formula developed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

According to the Standard, at least 30 senators are in support of a motion by Nairobi’s Johnson Sakaja seeking to ensure no county gets reduced allocation based on the third formula that will see regions that have been receiving a higher allocation because of their huge landmass and high poverty indices, get less.

However, the move by senators backing Sakaja has created further divisions on the hotly contested formula the commission forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

Senators backing the third basis revenue sharing formula are those from counties that will be gaining as those from counties that will lose, rejecting it.

There are those that, while their regions are gaining, are backing Sakaja’s motion.Sakaja, Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), Mohamed Faki (Mombasa) and Abshiro Halakhe (Nominated) have vowed to reject any proposal that will see any allocation to any county reduced while others gain.

Kindiki, who spoke on behalf of 18 other counties, argued that the formula being pushed by a section of senators, led by Murang’a’s Irungu Kangata, is highly divisive and meant to victimise some regions.

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