This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Clash of Ideologies: The Root Cause of Revenue Legislation Failure ¶
Published on August 6, 2019, the world witnessed a government shutdown in the United States, a country reeling from a budgeting process gone awry. Similarly, in Kenya, the failure to pass the Division of Revenue Bill has led to an impending government shutdown, with the country's legislators at odds over resource allocation.
The ideological divide between devolutionists and anti-devolutionists is at the heart of the issue. Devolutionists, who believe in equitable development across the country, reduction in horizontal inequalities, and depoliticising of resource allocation and regional development, are pitted against anti-devolutionists who want to maintain the status quo.
According to Dr. David Ndii, a senior economist, the only ideological difference in Kenya is between those who believe in devolution and want it implemented fully and those who don't. Devolutionists see devolution as a means to break the old structures and deliver systematic change, while anti-devolutionists want to maintain the status quo and protect their interests.
The Uhuru government's stance on devolution has been a major contributor to the failure of the Division of Revenue Bill. By reducing the allocation to counties every year, the government has shown its opposition to devolution. The governors have also complained of delayed disbursement of funds and blatant usurping of county government duties by the national government in defiance of the law.
The failure to enact the Division of Revenue Bill is a symptom of an ideological tug of war in government. The clash of egos between devolutionists and anti-devolutionists has led to a stalemate, with the country's future hanging in the balance.
