This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
August 21, 2019
A mediation session on the contentious Division of Revenue Bill, 2019, collapsed yesterday after a shouting match between lawmakers.
The session, which was attended by members of the National Assembly and the Senate, ended in acrimony after the lawmakers refused to listen to each other.
Senate Finance Committee chairperson Mohamed Mahamud adjourned the sitting after the lawmakers refused to listen to each other.
The disagreement signalled yet another dead end in the contentious issue that has dragged on, occasioning near paralysis in the counties after workers downed their tools.
At one point, Senator Okong'o Omogeni (Nyamira) stood and banged the table in protest to a contribution by nominated MP David ole Sankok.
The two spoke at each other concurrently for more than a minute causing confusion as other MPs called on the chairperson to end the session.
Earlier, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said the allocations can only be altered through a Supplementary Budget since the monies have since been appropriated.
He suggested that the 18-member team invite Treasury, Registrar of the Judiciary and clerks of the two Houses to agree if they are ready for budget cuts.
“Our bone of contention is where do we get the additional money. We have a deficit in our budget already with the Sh316.5 billion for the counties. “The money has been appropriated and it can only be adjusted through a Supplementary Budget. Let us not engage in a pedestrian argument but based on figures,” said Duale.
Senate stuck to its demand for Sh335 billion for the devolved units, while the National Assembly team led by Duale said the country would face a budget deficit of Sh25 billion if the demands were met.
“People go into mediation not holding guns and if the figures are cast in stone then this mediation has failed. I can tell you that we cannot proceed if we continue in this manner,” said Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.
