A section of West Pokot County leaders have called for the resignation of all Senators in Kenya for failing to find a solution to the revenue allocation hurdle.
The bill has met opposition and the Senate has remained deadlocked on the matter in 9 different sittings, prompting the formation of a 12 member committee to broker a deal on the contentious formula. The committee, despite a previous false alarm, has failed to find a solution.
The leaders in particular castigated Senate majority leader Samuel Poghisio, saying he is sleeping on his job. They said that the West Pokot Senator and Majority chief whip Irungu Kang’ata have failed the country and should be the first ones to step aside.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo and Sigor Member of parliament Peter Lochakapong said that Counties are grappling with a lack of funds yet Senators are still dilly dallying over the revenue bill.
“West Pokot and other Counties have not received County funds. We have not paid salaries now for three months. We only paid a little recently and all development projects have stalled and services are crippled,” said Lonyangapuo.
Speaking at Masol area while inspecting development projects, the leaders said that Senators have been overwhelmed by their tasks. Lochakapong called on the Senate leadership not to use intimidation, threats and force.
“The best thing for the Senate to do concerning the bill is to embrace dialogue and agree on the formula. It is wrong for the Senate majority whip Irungu Kang’ata to say that if you don’t behave you will face consequences. Senators were elected to represent their people not to face consequences,” he said.
He called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene in the matter. “The President should bring them together, or have another look at the house leaders.”
However, Senator Poghisio has dismissed the claims, stating that they are working round the clock to make sure a solution is found. According to him, various interests had converged to frustrate the process, “Kenyans should be patient.”
