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Let sobriety reign in revenue discussions

Monday, July 13th, 2020 00:00 | By
Wycliffe Oparanya, LREB chair and Kakamega governor. Photo/File

Devolution is one of the celebrated hallmarks of the 2010 Constitution. The country having experienced the ills of concentrating resources at the centre that were distributed based on the whims of individual political leaders, creation of counties sought to ensure equity and fairness in resource allocation.  

The supreme law not only established 47 devolved units to steer delivery of key services in the regions but also the Senate as well as County Assemblies to provide oversight over the use of funds. 

There have been missteps in the devolution journey, especially its management, but there is near consensus that it has been transformative. It has ensured that places that could not obtain resources for political reasons are now insulated.

That is why the drafters of the Constitution came up with the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) to shepherd funds allocation.  

The commission has created a formula to guide allocation of resources. The proposed cash sharing formula must take to account issues such as population, land mass, poverty levels, development and services. 

Today, the Senate is expected to unlock an unprecedented deadlock that has delayed disbursement of revenue to counties.

Senators from counties with vast land mass have protested against the Third Basis Formula proposed by the CRA that seems to attach particular significance to population in the distribution of the Sh316.5 billion equitable shareable revenue.

They argue that their counties will lose at least Sh17 billion.  But their colleagues from counties with huge populations have predictably backed the proposal which also adopts sector specific-funding approach.

Governors from marginalised and arid and semi-arid counties including the Coast have also opposed the formula, saying it will perpetuate marginalisation of their regions.

It would be noted that the issue of resource allocation and the politics around it remains highly emotive. 

Devolution was aimed to help previously marginalised counties “catch up” with those that had made significant steps in development. 

Notably, equity and fairness are overriding refrains of the 2010 Constitution.

That is why we encourage sobriety in today’s Senate discussions to ensure a win-win situation for aggrieved parties so that wananchi can get the services they deserve. 

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