MPs pass county cash allocation Bill

National Assembly during a past session. [File, Standard]

The National Assembly has passed the County Allocation Revenue Bill, meaning counties are a step closer to accessing funds.

The Bill, which moved to President William Ruto for assent, offers a breakdown of how the 47 county governments will share out Sh415 billion in shareable revenue.

Populous counties will reap the most of the allocation per a revenue-sharing formula approved by Parliament, with Nairobi getting Sh21.4 billion.

Nakuru County will receive Sh14.4 billion, the second highest, while Turkana and Kakamega have been allocated Sh13.8 billion and Sh13.6 billion respectively.

Taita Taveta, Isiolo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Tharaka Nithi and Lamu counties sit at the bottom, getting Sh5.7 billion, Sh5.6 billion, Sh5.5 billion, Sh5.05 billion and Sh3.8 billion respectively.

At the National Assembly, where debate on the bill was swift, MPs berated the county entities, as they do annually, for alleged wastage.

“County governments have been spending a lot of money on recurrent expenditures at the expense of development, and it is the decision of the Senate and the Commission of Revenue Allocation that this money be cut,” said Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Atandi highlighted increases in allocations to county assemblies worth Sh3.57 billion, which he said were necessary to enhance oversight of county executives.

Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro said county governments should “make good use of these monies and be accountable.” “We really send huge amounts to the counties, but you hardly see what it does,” said the South Mugirango MP.

Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo called out governors for “lopsided” priorities, even as she waded into the debate about diverting the National Government Constituency Development Fund allocations to the counties.