Governors want bigger share of mineral cash

Governors from mineral-producing areas are pushing for a change of law to ensure county governments control 20 per cent of natural resources in their regions.

Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma said the Governors’ Council was working on a model law that will see them have more say in the sharing of natural resources between the national and county governments.

The governors’ effort is a response to supremacy battles between the Senate and the National Assembly over the formula for sharing the resources.

Parliament in November passed the Mining Bill, which gives the government a bigger say in management of natural resources.

The Bill — already taken to the President for assent — is, however, silent on the percentage to be given to counties, communities and the national government.

OIL AND GOLD

Senators accuse the National Assembly of hijacking an earlier effort by Senator Agnes Zani to introduce a law seeking to outline a formula for sharing the resources.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said the mining law had been plagiarised from the Natural Resources (Benefit Sharing) Bill 2014, sponsored by Dr Zani.

“MPs shamelessly introduce Bills in the National Assembly, which they hurriedly pass and send to the President for assent,” Prof Kindiki said.

Dr Zani’s proposal seeks to allocate counties 40 per cent of all the money collected from oil, gas, minerals, forests, water, wildlife, fish, titanium and gold in their jurisdictions.

Mr Ranguma said the move would assist counties raise additional revenue to support the development funds disbursed by the national government.

“The national government had thought of taking up full management of the minerals, but we are saying we also have a stake,” he said yesterday during a county leadership workshop in Kisumu County.