Counties set to receive Sh227bn by this week
What you need to know:
- The proposed law shares Sh226.6 billion from the national government among the counties.
- MPs agreed to show up in the required numbers at an informal meeting they held on Tuesday before the proceedings.
Counties may receive their share of the Sh227 billion for devolution as soon as next week if the President assents to a law approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday.
MPs on Tuesday evening marshalled numbers to insert in the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, which was already passed by the Senate, a clause stating that the law would take effect within seven days of being signed by the President.
They then approved the Bill. The proposed law shares Sh226.6 billion from the national government among the counties.
It further splits among 11 counties Sh1.87 billion for the operation of level five hospitals, the health institutions that serve more than one county.
The Constitution says at least two thirds of members of the National Assembly must approve an amendment to the Bill after it has been passed by the Senate.
The House rejected a proposed amendment to the law on the management of public finances that gives the Commission on Revenue Allocation the power to determine the maximum amount that a county can spend on recurrent expenses.
By declining to take away that power, the MPs ensured that the CRA will be able to set budget ceilings for counties, hence deal with the misuse of funds characterised by foreign trips that members of county assemblies have been making.
While governors will be happy that the revenue Bill was passed, the bitter pill for them will be that a proposal to take the management of the Equalisation Fund away from them and give it to the Constituency Development Fund progressed to the third and last stage.
The Bill is sponsored by Samburu West MP Lati Lelelit and seeks to amend Article 204 of the Constitution so that money allocated as the Equalisation Fund is managed at the constituency instead of the national level.
INFORMAL MEETING
MPs agreed to show up in the required numbers at an informal meeting they held on Tuesday before the proceedings.
They discussed the need to extend the deadline on some five Bills and change parts of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill.
They also used the opportunity to discuss other in-house matters.
It is understood that among the issues was the quality of food in the dining hall at Parliament, lack of parking space and a broken elevator at Harambee Plaza.
The legislators also feel that their security is at risk as they walk between Parliament and their offices at Continental House.
