Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has rebuked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for advocating a ‘one-man-one-shilling’ county revenue-sharing formula, labeling it discriminatory and detrimental to marginalized counties.
Gachagua’s proposal aims to allocate national revenue to counties based on population rather than geographical size, a move he claims would promote equity and fairness in resource distribution.
However, Senator Mungatana, in an interview with local television station TV47 on Wednesday, denounced Gachagua’s approach, particularly highlighting its negative impact on sparsely populated and marginalized regions like Tana River, Garissa, and Isiolo.
He criticized Gachagua’s failure to consider the needs of such counties and cautioned against pursuing policies that could hinder national cohesion.
Mungatana also expressed disappointment in Gachagua’s unilateral stance, emphasizing that it does not align with the position of their shared party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
He urged Gachagua to consult widely within the party before making public pronouncements on significant policy matters.
The senator’s criticism comes amidst a growing debate over the equitable distribution of resources among Kenya’s counties.
While Gachagua advocates for a population-based formula, Mungatana argues for a fair allocation that considers both population and geographical factors.
Gachagua’s proposal mirrors an earlier suggestion by Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji, also from the UDA, which focused on Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocation based on population.
Mukunji’s proposal, made in March 2023, aimed to address disparities in CDF allocation among constituencies with varying population sizes.
The current revenue allocation system, based on a county’s landmass rather than population, has faced criticism for perpetuating inequalities and neglecting the needs of densely populated areas.
However, any changes to the revenue-sharing formula must adhere to constitutional provisions, which emphasize equitable distribution between national and county governments.
As the debate continues, stakeholders stress the importance of inclusive dialogue and careful consideration of the diverse needs and circumstances of all Kenyan counties to ensure fair and effective resource allocation.
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