Cash for counties Bill back in House
What you need to know:
- The National Assembly had approved that counties receive Sh283.7 billion.
- When the Bill was forwarded to the Senate for consideration, the latter increased the figure to Sh291 billion.
The National Assembly reconvenes for a special sitting on Tuesday to plot the next course of action after a mediation team failed to end the stalemate on funding to counties.
The chairman of the six-man mediation team, the Rev Mutava Musyimi (MP, Mbeere South) said the committee would hold its last meeting on Tuesday, when the 30-day deadline ends, to try and break the impasse, and that a report would have to be tabled in the afternoon.
“We will hold our last meeting on Tuesday, when the 30 days will come to an end, and whether we reach an agreement or not, a report would have to be tabled in the House,” he said.
The team that comprises three members from the National Assembly — Ms Mary Emasse (Teso South MP) Mr Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka MP) and Mr Musyimi, who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Budget Committee, and senators Boni Khalwale, (Kakamega) Beatrice Elachi (Nominated) and Mutahi Kagwe (Nyeri) have failed to reach a consensus on the amount that should be allocated to counties in the Division of Revenue Bill.
The National Assembly had approved that counties receive Sh283.7 billion, but when the Bill was forwarded to the Senate for consideration, the latter increased the figure to Sh291 billion, which the MPs rejected.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi formed the mediation committee, which for the past one month has failed to agree on a figure that both Houses would be comfortable with.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso said the law provides that the National Assembly makes the final decision if there is a stalemate on an issue involving a money Bill, and that the Constitution would have to be followed.
