Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revived the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ debate for the distribution of national resources
Speaking during the consecration of Bishop John Nthiga at ACK St Peters Church in Mbeere, Embu County on Sunday, the DP said resources were about the people and should be distributed according to the population as opposed to the size of the area.
“In matters of revenue sharing, and for the avoidance of doubt I am a believer and a proponent of ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’, resources are about people,” Gachagua said.
He noted that the more people in an area, the more taxes they contribute, and therefore when distributing resources, they should get higher allocation.
“It cannot be that Ruiru constituency with a population of 800,000 people will get the same amount in Constituency Development Fund as a constituency with 14,000, it’s not fair,” he said. The DP announced that Mt Kenya region should be pushing the agenda because it was about fair distribution of resources.
Last month the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) kicked off public participation in its fourth revenue-sharing formula.
During CRA’s first meeting with the Central Regional Economic Bloc, county bosses called for a review of the formula that would capture the one-shilling, one-man vote.
Equalisation funds
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire also called for fair distribution of equalisation funds.
Mbarire observed that while half of Embu is classified as an arid and semi-arid area (Asal), it was not considered for the conditional grant.
“Mbeere region is an Asal region, but it is not considered for the conditional grant yet funds are allocated to the northern parts of the county,” she said.
The DP noted that there were Asal areas in Mbeere (Embu), Ndeiya (Kiambu, and Kieni (Nyeri) that were forgotten.
“We must review these allocations to ensure they are included in the distribution of the equalisation funds,” he said.
Gachagua appealed for unity in the region to boost its bargaining power.
“Our unity is our strength, and we must remain together, we must speak in one voice because once we are divided we shall be scattered and defeated,” he said.
He said the only way to secure political power and lobby development for the region was through a united vote.
“This region failed to secure political leadership in 1992 and 1997 because were divided. ‘’it was only in 2002, when we united behind the late President Mwai Kibaki that we won the election,” he said.
