Salim Mvurya, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, has entered the fray of the county revenue allocation debate by strongly condemning the ‘One Man, One Vote, One Shilling’ proposal.
Speaking on Saturday at the Mwandamo in Msambweni, Kwale County, in commemoration of World Oceans Day, Mvurya criticized the initiative as regressive and divisive, warning that it could impede development in certain counties, particularly hindering the progress of the coastal region.
“The ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ mantra is impractical and should not be encouraged because it denies other counties an equal opportunity to develop. This campaign risks undoing the progress we’ve made in fairly distributing resources to all Kenyan citizens,” Mvurya stated.
Mvurya’s assertion underscores the campaign’s potential to undermine the pivotal role of devolution in driving development forward.
The CS highlighted devolution’s role in uplifting marginalized counties and warned against the negative impact of implementing a ‘one man, one shilling’ vote system on sparsely populated regions.
Emphasizing unity, he stressed that true fairness would only be achieved when every Kenyan receives an equal share of resources.
Addressing their leadership stance, the CS strongly advocates against any form of unfairness in the allocation of national resources.
The CS, speaking on behalf of leadership, reiterated the commitment to ensuring nationwide development that benefits every citizen, regardless of location.
Mvurya emphasized the need for the revenue formula to undergo national dialogue, ensuring thorough discussion and consideration.
He criticized the approach of some leaders who propose ideas without comprehensive deliberation, which could potentially harm both Kenyans and the nation’s development.
The CS lauded President William Ruto’s dedication to enhancing the lives of all citizens through rigorous development efforts.
Expressing concern, he stated that the ‘one man, one shilling’ principle undermines the country’s pursuit of standardized development and equitable service delivery to all Kenyans.
Pointing to recent strides in international cooperation for development, he highlighted President’s efforts to bolster development standards, suggesting that the revenue formula could impede progress.
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