Uproar as MPs block Sh60 billion to counties

A political storm has erupted after members of the National Assembly blocked a proposed Sh60 billion increase in funding to county governments, sparking criticism from governors and senators.

The standoff comes amid a separate dispute over the control of the Sh10 billion Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF), with MPs remaining steadfast in their position.

The MPs and the Council of Governors are embroiled in a court case over the control of the RMLF billions.

“The biggest threat to devolution is the National Assembly. The second biggest threat to devolution is the governors willing to play ball for cheap personal gains,” Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua said.

According to Wambua,  the MPs are intentionally starving the counties of funds, thereby crippling their ability to perform their functions.

“The best way of killing devolution is to deny county governments money to carry out devolved functions,” he added.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr placed the national executive at the centre of the National Assembly’s maneuvers to cripple devolution.

He said the MPs are bidding for the executive to perform their functions as they squeeze allocations to the counties, affecting the delivery of services by the devolved governments.

“Everything stems from the national executive. The national executive sends the draft division of revenue to Parliament. They are engaged throughout and the President has the final say on the Bill. As governors, we don’t have that latitude,” Mutula said.

Recently, the National Assembly approved the Division of Revenue Bill, 2025, allocating Sh405.06 billion in equitable share to devolved units for the next financial year.

However, this figure is Sh60 billion less than the Sh465 billion that the Senate had proposed and approved in the Budget Policy Statements two months ago.

MPs attributed the reduction to shortfalls in revenue collection, which they argue have impacted allocations to county governments.

They also cited the growing burden of public debt service expenditures as a contributing factor.

"The lower ordinary revenue collection continues to impact the allocation to county governments. This situation is further complicated by high public debt service expenditures," the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee explained in a report.

In contrast, the Senate had allocated Sh465 billion to counties in the BPS. Additionally, MPs have allocated Sh2.41 trillion to the national government.

The Division of Revenue Bill, which splits the national budget between the national and county governments, has now been sent to the Senate for consideration.

The development has sparked outrage, with senators and governors denouncing the lawmakers’ decision, branding them as adversaries to devolution and a threat to the financial stability of counties.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale questioned the MPs’ interest in denying the counties enhanced allocation, which is meant for development.

“Why would a member of the National Assembly not support that money going to the county where he comes from and yet all counties are benefiting?” Khalwale said.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi reckoned that the trend by MPs to constantly slash allocation to the counties is a tell-tale sign of a plot to ‘kill’ devolution.