Following the recent petition by Governors to the Supreme Court about the Division of Revenue Bill 2019, Chief Justice David Maraga has directed all parties wishing to join the case to file their responses on 22nd July by 4pm while the case will be mentioned on 23rd July at 9:00 am for directions on when it will be heard. “Be ready to be heard even the following day, so arrange your diaries accordingly,” said CJ Maraga. The Governors on Monday accused the national government of stifling devolution, and have repeatedly faulted the National Assembly, which has always supported a lower equitable share to the Counties, compared to the figure proposed by the County administrations.
However, the Chief Justice wondered if the parties in the case including the applicants can discuss and talk to find another way forward to the issue. Lawyer Fred Ngatia, representing the CoG, said they are open to discussions before Monday, “We are not doing it for any other purpose other than the people of the republic of this great nation. We are so willing to discuss and do everything that we can we have no other interests other than devolution,” he said. The government had increased its proposed equitable allocation to Counties to Kshs 316 billion from the initial Kshs 310 billion, but the Governors rejected the new figure.
Written by Ian Madiavale