MPs to decide fate of county billions

MPs are expected to determine whether counties deserve Sh226 billion or not in the next financial year, as the National Assembly resumes Tuesday after a two-week break.

The decision on the allocation will be the climax of debate when the Division of Revenue Bill, 2014 is brought to the House for its Second Reading.

Majority Leader Aden Duale will move the Bill that proposes the Sh226 billion allocation to the county governments but MPs will have a chance to raise or lower it.

The Bill has to be passed by both Houses and assented to by President Kenyatta before the reading of the national budget in June.

The Senate, now in recess until early June, will be recalled to pass the Bill before it is returned to the National Assembly for its final adoption before it is sent to the President for assent.

The two Houses expect the Bill to be passed without hitches unlike last year when they went for each other’s neck over the amount of money to be sent to counties.

The National Assembly rejected Senate’s proposal of Sh258 billion, sticking to its earlier amount of Sh210 billion.

The dispute found its way to the Supreme Court where the National Assembly was faulted for not consulting the Senate.

This year, the Houses have agreed to share duties to avert fallouts.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said they agreed that the National Assembly prepares the Division of Revenue Bill as the Senate formulates the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2014.

“The leadership of the two Houses have agreed that we work harmoniously; that is why we have agreed to share the Bills,” Prof Kindiki said.

Of the proposed Sh226.6 billion, Sh217.87 billion will be shared equitably among the 47 counties, while Sh3.65 billion will go to financing rural electrification programmes.