Governors to block bid to slash counties' revenue

Governors have vowed to block a proposal by the National Treasury to reduce shareable revenue to the counties by Sh9 billion.

Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya said the move will affect service delivery in counties.

He accused Treasury of becoming an imperial institution out to kill devolution, adding that they will use all available means to block the implementation of the proposal. He spoke at a press briefing in Kisumu.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who accompanied Mr Oparanya, accused the government of waging the same war on financial attrition that Kanu government played on the regions in 1964 after independence.

“The Kanu government just decided then to starve the regions of money so that majimbo could be killed. It is the same style again to starve the counties of money so that devolution can be killed,” Prof Nyong’o said.

Mr Oparanya said the argument by Treasury that it was not able to collect what it had anticipated in the last three years as the cause of their move is wrong.

“The law is clear. The Division of Revenue Act 2018 is clear that if there is any shortfall, it should be owned by the Treasury because it is the one that determines what should go to counties.”

He went on: “We are saying if it was agreed that we get Sh314 billion this financial year, that is what should be given.”

Mr Oparanya said they had already discussed the matter with President Uhuru Kenyatta.