• Malala said he will lobby fellow senators to reject the proposal.
Kakamega is to lose Sh1.4 billion.
Image: MARTIN OMBIMA
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has protested a proposal by the national Treasury to slash allocation to counties towards the Covid-19 fight.
Oparanya on said Friday that the Council of Governors - which he chairs - will meet Tuesday to discuss the proposal as a priority.
"County governments have come a long way fighting for devolution because of the erratic flow of cash from the national government. Parliament should not agree to the proposal," Oparanya said.
He said his administration had reduced its projections from Sh2 billion to Sh1.4 billion and a further reduction of the sharable revenue to counties was unacceptable.
Senator Cleophas Malala said the Senate has received a proposal by Treasury suggesting an allocation cut by over Sh46 billion. Kakamega is to lose Sh1.4 billion, Malala said.
Oparanya spoke during a presser after a meeting by Kakamega leaders at the county chambers to agree on a common formula to combat coronavirus in the county.
Senators Naomi Shiyonga, Gertrude Musuruve, woman MP Elsie Muhanda, Deputy Governor Philip Kutima, MPs Ayub Savula, Emmanuel Wangwe, Justus Kizito, Malulu Injendi, Bernard Shinali, Titus Khamala, Christopher Aseka, Tindi Mwale, Justus Murunga and Johnston Naica attended the meeting.
Malala said he will lobby fellow senators to reject the proposal.
"The President announced the other day that county governments will receive Sh5bn to fight the virus, how then does he take away Sh46 billion?" He asked.
Oparanya said the leaders resolved to work together regardless of their political affiliations to defeat the virus.
"This is not the time to politicise issues about this pandemic. We should all work together to ensure the safety of our people.”
The leaders approved a Sh105 million fund to fight the disease. Malala will oversight the use of the funds to ensure transparency and accountability.
Edited by R.Wamochie