This archive report was first published on 29 August 2019.
On August 28, 2019, a crucial meeting between lawmakers to resolve the cash crisis in devolved units collapsed due to a Senate boycott.
Only two senators, Mohamed Mahamud and Okong'o Omogeni, attended the meeting, while seven others, including Margaret Kamar, Johnson Sakaja, and Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, skipped the sitting with apologies.
According to National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, it was unusual for seven out of nine senators to be absent, especially when they were aware of the sitting.
Senator Mahamud defended his team, stating that he had reached out to Duale to postpone the sitting, but the team's chairman, Kimani Ichung'wa, insisted that the sitting could not be postponed through phone calls, as it was against the Standing Orders of Parliament.
The cash crisis in the 47 counties has led to strikes over salary delays, with the Council of Governors pushing for small disbursements as the two Houses seek a solution.
Despite the stalemate, the National Assembly stuck to its proposal of Sh316.5 billion, while the Senate insisted on Sh335 billion for the devolved units.
As of the end of the 2018/19 financial year, the 47 counties had only spent Sh228.4 billion out of the allocated Sh314 billion, leaving a deficit of Sh85.6 billion.
