Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich. A total of 105 MPs have threatened to initiate impeachment motion against him. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
A total of 105 MPs from 14 counties meant to receive the Equalisation Fund (EF)—which has since accumulated to Sh20 billion —have threatened to shoot down the budgetary request and initiate impeachment motion against Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich.
The EF is established under Article 204 of the Constitution for use by the national government to provide basic services including water, roads, health facilities and electricity to marginalised areas.
Treasury faces a major hurdle in its push to have the Sh57 billion supplementary budget passed in parliament this week, as MPs from marginalised areas threaten to block it.
A total of 105 MPs from 14 counties meant to receive the Equalisation Fund (EF)—which has since accumulated to Sh20 billion —have threatened to shoot down the budgetary request and initiate impeachment motion against Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich.
“It is unfortunate that five years after the promulgation of the Constitution, we have not received a single cent. Treasury mandarins under the watch of Mr Rotich are keeping the money unconstitutionally,” Samburu North MP Alois Lentoimanga said.
“We demand that Mr Rotich release the money forthwith. If this is not done immediately, we are not going to approve the supplementary budget.”
The legislators are drawn from Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Samburu, West Pokot, Tana River, Narok, Kwale, Garissa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Isiolo and Lamu counties.
The EF is established under Article 204 of the Constitution for use by the national government to provide basic services including water, roads, health facilities and electricity to marginalised areas.
The fund constitutes 0.5 per cent of all the revenue collected by the national government each year calculated on the basis of most recent audited accounts of cash received and as approved by the National Assembly.
The delay in the disbursement of the money to 14 counties selected by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) has been occasioned by lack of a legal framework.
“The national government may use the Equalisation Fund only to the extent that the expenditure of those funds has been approved in Appropriation Bill enacted by Parliament,” Article 204(3) states.
Alternatively, the Constitution allows the national government to use the fund either directly or indirectly through conditional grants to counties in which marginalised communities exist.
The MPs accuse the government of frustrating efforts towards enactment of enabling legislation to actualise the fund.
Samburu West MP Lati Lelelit sponsored a constitutional amendment Bill to have the Equalisation Fund channelled through the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) framework which MPs approved through its second reading. The Bill is one step towards becoming law.
Turkana South MP James Lomenen said lawmakers from the affected counties are collecting signatures to impeach Mr Rotich.
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