Senators have agreed to settle on the Kshs 316 billion equitable share to be distributed to Counties as proposed by the government, highlighting the end of a tussle between the national government and County governments. The Senate had stuck to its initial proposed figure of Kshs 335 billion as equitable share to Counties, while the National Assembly, which had earlier published a figure of Kshs 310 billion, couldn’t go beyond Kshs 316 billion. Services at Counties have been affected, with County workers going without pay in some devolved units, and the Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya had warned of a Counties’ shutdown if the situation wouldn’t have been sorted out by September 15th.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who was accompanied by other Senators inclduing James Orengo, Johnson Sakaja, Mutula Kilonzo Jr among others, said the decision was agreed at a meeting held by the Senators on Thursday. “This had been a painful decision for the Senate, but the Senate has been faced with a situation where it has to rise to the calling and put the overall national interests above short term partisan considerations,” he said. He noted that the Senate was able to raise the figure by 6.5 billion from the earlier published Kshs 310 billion, “It is not enough but it is progress and the Senate will live to fight another day.”
However, he expressed the Senate’s disappointment with how the National Assembly conducted itself during the lockdown, saying the Assembly has taken upon itself the position of the defender and protector of the interests of the national government without any regards to the County governments. He termed the MPs conduct as aggressive, combative, insensitive and reckless, “It is the ultimate irony that it is no bother to the National Assembly if the people of Kenya are denied basics services at the Counties so long as the national government is adequately resourced,” said Murkomen.
Senators representing the Senate in the ongoing mediation talks have been urged to meet their counterparts from the National assembly to conclude the impasse, which will be a relief to all County governments.