-
The Senator said he was acting in the greater national interest as he voted against having counties get more funds allocation.
-
He said once National interests are addressed, it has a ripple effect on county interests and individual interests.
Image: FILE
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has come out to explain why it was necessary to vote against the idea to increase funds allocated to the devolved units.
Khalwale, while speaking at an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, said it is myopic to make the public believe that Parliament was voting to deny counties money.
"It is myopic and simplistic to make the public believe that what was taking place in parliament was voting to deny counties money. Far from it. There has never been that kind of motion, that kind of bill, that kind of agenda in the Senate," Khalwale said.
He explained that what was in the Senate was lawmaking.
That the law they were speaking about was sharing of revenue between the National and County governments.
"It is called the Division of Revenue Bill. "he said.
Khalwale said when the revenue is being shared, there ought to be a balance between the National needs and county needs so that both levels of government remain functional.
The Senator said he is happy with the way he voted.
Khalwale said when the Azimio faction called for the increase in funds allocation to counties, they were exercising power and authority without responsibility.
"Responsibility demanded that we balance the National interests against the county interests so that we can move on and drag on until the next financial year
He said the new regime inherited a huge public debt crisis.
Khalwale said people should allow themselves to see the debt crisis the National government is in.
"If you completely refuse to see that debt crisis that the country is in and not allow the national government to be in a position to address the national crisis, we will just match on, and by the next financial year we are finished," he explained.
The Senator said he was acting in the greater national interest as he voted against having counties get more funds allocation.
He said once National interests are addressed, it has a ripple effect on county interests and individual interests.
"If we had chosen the other route, we would be delaying the budget process now, because we would have deferred with the national assembly, we would have gone to a mediation committee, and in the mediation committee we would have said these things we are saying and still we would come out with the figure that we have said," he said.
On January 26, National and county governments failed to agree on the amount of money to be disbursed to devolved units by the National Treasury in the next financial year.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that a special committee had been formed to unlock the impasse.
The Deputy President said governors were demanding Sh425 billion but the Commission on Revenue Allocation has proposed Sh407 billion with the National Treasury indicating it can only raise Sh380 billion.
“We have not been able to reach a decision but I want to confirm that participants are alive to the economic situation that is facing the country and are embracing the give-and-take spirit,” he said.
“The committee will report back to us in a week on the agreed amount that will go to counties.”