This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
Published on August 5, 2020
Kenya's revenue sharing debate has hit a snag, but the real issue is not the formula itself, but the politics surrounding it.
The Senate has been discussing the merits and demerits of the formula developed by the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) for weeks, but the debate has been marred by threats, intimidation, and blackmail.
Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kang'ata has been accused of issuing threats to deal with non-pliant Jubilee Senators, while shadowy political characters have been shuttling around, dropping names and directing elected leaders on how to vote.
Senators are representatives of the people, not beholden to any party leader. To let party leaders decide for Parliament is to throw democracy out of the window for dictatorship.
The revenue sharing debate is not about life and death; it can be resolved through honest brokering. The many adjournments are not helpful.
