Senate demands chance to discuss Sh6b Uwezo Fund

By Roselyne Obala and Ally Jamah

Nairobi, Kenya: The supremacy battles between the National Assembly and Senate have surfaced again, this time over the Sh6 billion Uwezo Fund rules and regulations.

 Yesterday, senators sought to know from their Speaker Ekwee Ethuro why they were not allowed to ventilate on the fund, yet it touches on counties.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Billow Kerrow questioned why the Senate was not accorded the chance to discuss the Uwezo Fund.

Mr Kerrow (Mandera) kicked off the charged debate, emphasising that, as per the law, the fund’s the rules and regulations should be discussed in the Senate.

 He also took issue with the decision by the Ministry of Devolution and Planning to involve the National Assembly and not the Senate.

 Senators Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Amos Wako (Busia), Boni Khalwale  (Kakamega ) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) faulted the National Assembly for denying the senate the privilege to discuss the fund.

MPs have allocated themselves the role of patrons at constituency level.

 They will nominate members who will sit in the Funds Committee without involving senators.

 Omar sought to know from Ethuro if he had been consulted over the matter by his National Assembly counterpart Justin Muturi.

“Mr Speaker we would like to know whether you were consulted on this issue of Uwezo Fund,” he inquired.

The senators  also reminded the Speaker that the Supreme Court Advisory opinion on the Division of Revenue Bill, which was delivered last month was yet to be acted upon.

Kipchumba Murkomen said the Supreme Court’s ruling was to be implemented by a committee of both houses.

-Story by Roselyne Obala And Ally Jamah