SAMS SENSE: The crazy Math exercise involving national and county governments

Sometimes I wonder, does devolution really make sense?

This week really tested my understanding of the devolved system of government and specifically the rather troubled interaction between the two levels of government, the National Government and the county governments. You see, the Constitution in Article 6 provides that the two levels of government “are distinct and inter-dependent and shall conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation and cooperation.”

But this is easier said on paper than done in reality. The two levels this week and for some time now have bickered over the sharing of revenue, or should we even say, remittance of funds due to the counties.

The Council of Governors (CoG) Chair recently issued an ultimatum to the national government, perhaps her first time to speak in such terms against the President William Ruto administration. You see, up until Thursday last week, the counties were owed resources of up to Ksh.125 billion meant for the months of January up to April 2023. In February this year, the President in a summit with the governors promised timely release of resources. The governors are now surprised.

The National Treasury has since released funds for the months of January and February between last week and this week. Did it have to take such a shutdown threat?

You see, the last time county governors threatened to shut down governments was in 2021, under similar circumstances. Before then, it was in September 2020 when then CoG chair Wycliffe Oparanya announced actual closure when the National Assembly and the Senate could not resolve a revenue-sharing standoff. Senate wanted more, the National Assembly defended a National Treasury lower figure.

The Senate was last week faced with a similar question and they resolved to vote with the National Assembly to limit county resources at Ksh.385 billion. The Commission on Revenue Allocation had recommended that Ksh.407 billion be allocated to counties. And the governors are unhappy.

"We note with concern that in the history of devolution, the Senate has never voted against the spirit of devolution in as far as resources are concerned," CoG Chair Anne Waiguru said then.

That surprised me. In February this year, the same Council of Governors appeared before media cameras in toe with the President of the Republic to announce that a deal had been arrived at to resolve a revenue stand-off.

Four days later, I spoke to the CoG chair Anne Waiguru as I sought to know what the new figure was.

"We haven't quite finalised the numbers. The President added Ksh.4.7 billion, Ksh.100 million per county...there are other things that have not been calculated which is why I am saying we don't have a figure yet," Waiguru said.

And so, what was the summit of February 10th about if it didn’t resolve the revenue standoff? What is the value of recommendations by an independent constitutional commission that a minimum of Ksh.407 billion should be sent to the counties, but ends up overturned on a basis that is not stakeholder inclusive? Are our leaders speaking to each other?

When Senators pick the microphone and accuse governors of misusing resources and therefore they should not be allocated more, do we understand the role of institutions and devolution?

If the reasoning of the National Treasury is that it can only afford Ksh.385 billion because of the fiscal strains, then what was that meeting in Naivasha about? Funded by the taxpayers, where the top leaders from across the country committed to even transfer functions that are currently being implemented by the national government to the counties. What was the value? What's the sense?

And that is my sense tonight.

Tags:

Citizen Digital Devolution Citizen TV Kenya CoG Revenue

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories