This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
Published on August 3, 2020, by ONYANGO K'ONYANGO
ODM Chairman John Mbadi has come out to clarify Raila Odinga's stance on the contentious revenue sharing formula, which has been met with opposition from Coast MPs.
According to Mbadi, Odinga does not support the formula, which would see marginalised counties lose millions of shillings from the national government.
Instead, Mbadi said Odinga wants the Senate to factor in a method to cushion counties that will lose from the formula, a recommendation that was ignored by the Finance Committee.
"I think Kenyans need to be educated on what Raila said. He did not support a formula which will see marginalised counties lose but he was categorical in faulting the senators for failing to factor in the recommendations by Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) on how these counties will be cushioned, a matter which the Finance Committee, chaired by Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru ignored," Mbadi said.
Coast MPs, led by Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Nyali's Mohammed Ali, had accused Odinga of betraying the region by supporting the revenue sharing formula.
The formula, if adopted, would see Mombasa County lose Sh513 million, Kwale Sh1.213 billion, Kilifi Sh1.192 billion, Tana River Sh458 million and Taita-Taveta Sh388 million.
Mbadi accused the Coast MPs of being hypocritical, saying they had failed to raise their concerns with the party and had been silent on the matter until the last minute.
