Governors don't support reduction of their money, accuse MoH of frustrating efforts against Covid-19

Governors have asked the Senate to adopt the old formula for sharing revenue and save counties from the cash crunch they are facing.

Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Wycliffe Oparanya yesterday said too much time has been wasted in debating the third generation formula on revenue-allocation.

He accused senators of dragging their feet when it comes to passing the formula.

“The third-generation formula of county equitable share allocation was supposed to have been passed one and a half years ago,” Oparanya said in Nairobi.

“Due to the current impasse, we call upon senators to approve the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA), 2020 which has nothing to do with the new formula so that we get the cash due to us.”

He insisted that the old formula has served counties well and should be used to allocate money instead of looking for ways to reduce funds granted to various devolved units.

“Counties had already made their budgets. There is no way they will reduce the amounts allocated to different projects. In fact, we want more money,” Oparanya said.

At the same time, CoG Chairman for Health, Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti, called on the government to resolve the cycle of financial uncertainty that hits counties around July and August of every year.

“This is the time workers go on strike because they are not paid since Treasury fails to release funds,” Kuti said.

“Kenyans should start discussing the rationale of allocating functions to counties while retaining money at the national level.”