President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga are staring at another stalemate at Senate after 25 senators vowed to defeat the disputed revenue formula.
This comes after a meeting of supporters of the bill met on monday and agreed on Sh187 billion to be released to devolved units to save them from cash crisis that has been created by the deadlock.
The 25 senators behind last week’s defeat of an amendment to push the disputed formula by two years have schemed on another plan to defeat it completely.
The disputed formula is fronted by Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata and enjoys the backing of Kenyatta and Odinga.
25 is a good number to shoot down the formula since it surpasses the 24 threshold needed to beat it and save 18 counties from losing Sh17 billion.
ODM leader Raila met a section of the president’s allies led by Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe at the Kajiado home of Cotu boss Francis Atwoli where Raila promised to lure ODM senators to back the president.
The ODM boss instructed Siaya Senator James Orengo, the Minority leaders bring the senators together and offer the support the president needs.
“We met with Raila to discuss, among other things, the disputed revenue sharing formula. We all agreed that the formula has to go through on Tuesday,” Peter Kenneth said.
Uhuru and Raila only need two more senators to pass the controversial proposal but Jubilee and Nasa senators have vowed to be on the right side when history is written despite intimidations to sway them.
They are also armed with three formulas to counter the one proposed by the House Finance and Budget Committee. One formula will be debated today and is sponsored by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.
The formula will ensure that no county gets less than the amount they received in the last financial year.
Counties that stand to lose are from less populous regions of Coast, Northeastern, lower Eastern and parts of the Rift Valley.
In a scenario where Sakaja’s formula is defeated, another formula sponsored by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina will immediately be introduced.
The revenue deadlock has stalled passage of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2020 and the cash disbursement schedule to allow the counties access the funds.
The Bill breaks down how 47 devolved units would share the Sh316.5 billion allocated to them in 2020-21 budget while the disbursement schedule specifies the monthly releases to each county.
