Jubilee MPs’ new plot to kill deal on county cash

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Billow Kerrow with members Wilfred Machage and Mutahi Kagwe before a joint meeting with their National Assembly counterparts on Tuesday. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: The deal to increase cash to the counties by Sh3.3billion to break the deadlock on the Division of Revenue Bill is reportedly facing stiff opposition from members of the National Assembly allied to the ruling Jubilee coalition.

The MPs have vowed to reject the agreement hammered out by representatives of the Senate and the National Assembly after mediation talks.

Under the disputed deal, counties are to get Sh287 billion in the next financial allocation, instead of the Sh283.7 billion proposed by the National Assembly and the Senate’s Sh291 billion.

The Sh3.3 billion increment was a compromise, but The Standard has established it might not be a done deal yet.

The report was tabled in both Houses on Wednesday, but while the Senate debated and adopted it, the National Assembly deferred the matter to next Wednesday as ruled by Speaker Justin Muturi.

The deadline for mediation lapsed Thursday and the report should be adopted in both Houses within seven days.

But sources privy to heightened lobbying among MPs told The Standard that the move to defer debate to Wednesday was deliberate to allow the members more time to marshal numbers to reject it on the basis that their colleague, ODM’s Tom Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), betrayed them by backing senators on the matter.

The six-member mediation team on Wednesday voted four against two to reach the agreement.

The Standard has established that senior leaders in the Jubilee are already rallying their members to throw out the deal, which increases the counties’ vote from Sh283.7 billion to Sh287 billion.

No consensus

National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Town) and Dennis Waweru ( Dagoretti South) Thursday confirmed there was grumbling among MPs about the report.

“The House is not united on this matter and this cuts across. However, it will depend on the mood of the House and how the Budget committee will prosecute this matter on the floor of the House after the meeting on Tuesday with the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich,” said Duale. He denied knowledge of any plot to rally members to reject the report, but confirmed that members are disgruntled about it.

Waweru, who is a member of the Budget committee, faulted senators over the increment, saying the governors had canvassed their position at the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) chaired by Deputy President William Ruto, and therefore senators should not challenge the figures approved by the National Assembly.

“We are not going to give in without a fight. Those celebrating should go slow because a major disappointment is coming,” disclosed a Jubilee MP who declined to be named.

“What Kajwang’ did is a betrayal. He was not supposed to consent to any additional funds to counties. He decided to vote against the House’s decision,” he said.

The six member mediation team consisted of Mutava Musyimi (Mbeere South), Mary Emasse (Teso South), Kajwang and senators Mutahi Kagwe (Nyeri), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and Beatrice Elachi (Nominated) and was mandated to unlock the impasse on the Sh7.7billion additional vote to counties, approved by the Senate and rejected by the National Assembly.

MPs who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity vowed to defeat the bill despite warnings by the Parliamentary Budget Office of dire consequences should that happen.

However, an Opposition MP expressed disappointment at the plan by his colleagues, saying it is a plot to kill devolution.

“I can confirm the lobbying is on. Personally I don’t support this move. I believe Kajwang’ did the best thing. Sometimes the country is bigger than an individual. He stood his ground and made an independent decision. I applaud him,” said the MP from Western Kenya.

The Government side is irked with Kajwang’ decision to vote with senators, ending the deadlock on the mediation talks with a decisive 4-2 victory.

The Standard was told the Jubilee leaders are planning to use their influence to lobby President Uhuru Kenyatta not to assent to the amended version of the bill effectively killing the proposed law.

When contacted, Kajwang’ said the matter has not been brought to his attention.

“I have not heard it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they shoot it down going by the stunts the Jubilee MPs have pulled on this matter. They have the tyranny of numbers and the Treasury could misadvise the President into rejecting it,” said Kajwang.

But he affirmed his position in supporting more funds, saying the issues raised in the report are pertinent and affect the people from catchment areas.

“The issue of Level Five hospitals is dear to us and they need to be facilitated. I believe nobody in their right senses would want to oppose the report. Its failure will also create chaos across the country and political expediency will not count here,” said Kajwang.

He continued, “If the report is defeated, it can only be introduced after six months and during this period counties will not have budgets,” he said. Thursday, Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro commended the House on its efforts to reach a compromise to increase the counties' vote.