This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
As the standoff between the Senate and the National Assembly continues, nearly three weeks have passed since county employees were last paid their salaries. This has led to strike threats from their unions, leaving the workers in a precarious situation.
According to reports, the crisis is a result of the ongoing feud between the two Houses of Parliament over the Division of Revenue Bill 2019. The bill proposes a Sh316 billion allocation to the counties, but the Senate has yet to approve it.
Meanwhile, the county governments are struggling to pay their employees on time, citing a financial crunch. This has raised questions about the viability of the 47 county entities, with many wondering if they can sustain themselves without relying on national government allocations.
As the crisis deepens, it is clear that the counties must find alternative sources of revenue to justify their existence. Withholding salaries from employees is a gross violation of their rights, and it is imperative that the impasse is resolved as soon as possible.
