Poor turnout at CRA public input meeting

Poor turnout marked a public participation meeting by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) in Kakamega County on Thursday.

CRA officials led by Joseph Kimura, one of the commissioners, convened the meeting at Social Hall in Kakamega town to collect views on how to share the national revenue.

Only a handful of residents made it to the meeting with many of the seats remaining empty throughout the session.

Frederick Chitechi, the founding chairman of the Kakamega Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the revenue formula needed to be revised to increase the percentages for population and poverty.

“The revenue formula should be revised to increase the percentages for population and poverty because, these are crucial parameters. Money given to county governments should also be increased to ensure that it is at least 50 per cent of the total budget,” said Mr Chitechi.

Levy Akhinduka, a participant, said Kakamega being the most populous rural county experiences special challenges owing to its large population.

“There should be a little improvement in the allocations to ensure that the population is taken care of. As at now, the 45 per cent for population and 20 per cent for poverty should be increased to cater for counties like ours,” said Mr Akhinduka.

Members of the public complained about the disinterest by the county government and the assembly in such meetings. They told the county government to organise public forums to discuss matters relating to the devolved government

Shinanda Ingumba, a resident, noted that the lack of interest had jeopardised the effectiveness of public gatherings to discuss matters of county development.

“This county government should take the frontline in ensuring that citizens participate in such forums. However, this has not been the case since no one has taken the initiative to ensure effective mobilisation for the same. In fact, the information doing rounds is that the county government wanted only 50 people to attend,” said Ms Ingumba.

Robinson Oduma, the chairman of University Academic Staff Union Masinde Muliro University chapter, said it was critical for the citizenry to form a county forum to discuss county matters.

“We are working on modalities to ensure that a citizen’s forum is put in place to promote discourse on county matters. The Constitution puts particular emphasis on public participation, which we are keen to ensure is implemented,” said Oduma, in an interview with The Standard.

Meanwhile, the Kakamega County Chamber of Commerce and Industry has started negotiations to ensure chapter elections are held to forestall a standoff that has been in place for years.