Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has strongly condemned Members of Parliament (MPs) for rejecting a Senate proposal that sought to increase the allocation to counties by an additional Ksh60 billion.
He warned that the move threatens the future of devolution in Kenya and undermines efforts to empower local governments.
On June 3, the National Assembly dismissed the amendment proposed by the Senate, which aimed to raise the county allocation from Ksh405 billion to Ksh465 billion. MPs cited the country’s tough economic situation as the reason for turning down the proposed increase.
However, Senator Cherargei expressed disappointment with this decision, stating that the Senate will now push for mediation to resolve the matter.
“As the Senate, we are heading into mediation. It doesn’t make sense that the national budget is over Ksh4 trillion, yet counties are only getting Ksh405 billion.
That is completely unfair. The only excuse MPs are giving is corruption—yet even at the national level, there is widespread corruption,” said Cherargei.
He challenged MPs who raised concerns about mismanagement of county funds to also address the corruption scandals affecting national government institutions.
“What are MPs doing to address the corruption in ministries and state departments?
I supported the Ksh465 billion allocation because counties need more money for development,” he added.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who led the motion against the Senate’s proposal, explained that increasing the county allocations by Ksh60 billion was not practical given the country’s limited fiscal space.
“The original Bill allocated Ksh405 billion to counties, which was a figure agreed upon.
The Senate amended it, suggesting an increase to Ksh465 billion, but given the current economic situation, we simply cannot afford it,” Ichung’wah told Parliament.
MPs unanimously voted in favor of Ichung’wah’s motion, effectively rejecting the Senate’s amendment. This decision has intensified the ongoing standoff between the two Houses over county revenue allocation.
Senator Cherargei, however, emphasized that increasing county funds is essential for service delivery at the grassroots level.
He highlighted that the additional funds would help counties improve infrastructure, healthcare, medicine supply, and youth training programs.
“We need more funds going to mashinani so we can fix local roads, stock hospitals with drugs, and ensure young people can access vocational training in youth polytechnics.
If we have Ksh4 trillion in the national budget, allocating only Ksh400 billion to counties is like starving them,” the Senator said.
He also announced plans to introduce proposals for a more balanced and fair distribution of national resources, arguing that counties deserve a larger share to fulfill their development mandates.
In addition, Cherargei urged President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga not to support the MPs’ stance, warning that it could undermine the promise of devolution.
“I appeal to President Ruto and Raila Odinga not to back this decision. Supporting it would weaken counties and reverse the gains we’ve made in strengthening local governance,” he stressed.
This disagreement between the Senate and the National Assembly is not new. In recent years, similar disputes over the exact amount of county allocations have led to significant delays in the disbursement of funds to counties, affecting service delivery and development projects.
The mediation process now expected between the two Houses could help resolve the deadlock. However, the larger issue remains — how to fairly distribute national revenue while balancing the country’s economic challenges and the constitutional commitment to strengthen devolution.
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