Its a Done Deal! Says Murkomen as Senate Committee Agrees on Revenue Allocation Formula

Months after the senate started debating on the controversial new revenue allocation formula, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has now given a clear indication that the stalemate could have ended after an agreement.

Taking to his twitter page on Thursday afternoon, Murkomen, who has been on the forefront opposing the new formula, stated that it was only a matter of time before the committee officially brings the stalemate to a dead end.

He said the 12-member team which had been engaging in deep consultations since morning over the formula had finally struck a deal.

“Done Deal White!” posted Murkomen.

https://twitter.com/kipmurkomen/status/1306540214572257281?s=20

His remarks were also echoed by Nairobi Senator  Johnson Sakaja who indicated that a final agreement had been reached.

Deal pic.twitter.com/kQKFV8DSha

— Sakaja (@SakajaJohnson) September 17, 2020

“We the undersigned members of the committee established to consider the matter of the third basis for allocating among the counties, the share of national revenue, do hereby append our signatures to adopt the report,” read a statement signed by the 12 member committee.

The report is expected to be tabled later this afternoon in the Senate for debate and approval.

His tweet comes after he earlier on indicated that they were nearly closing in on an agreement that will see counties start receiving their 2020-2021 revenue allocations.

“We are currently sitting as the Special Committee of the Senate on the third basis for revenue sharing. The happy ending is near,” tweeted Murkomen earlier.

We are currently sitting as the Special Committee of the Senate on the third basis for revenue sharing. The happy ending is near. pic.twitter.com/O8LXf0TBeD

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) September 17, 2020

The breakthrough comes at a time the Senate has failed for a record 10th time to reach on a consensus on the best formula to share revenue among counties.

The stalemate forced President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been championing for the formula; one man one shilling, to convene an urgent meeting with the Senate leadership. 

Uhuru, in his Tuesday’s meeting, was forced to personally intervene and promise to add Ksh.50 billion in the next financial year to cushion counties that were losing money through the implementation of the third basis revenue sharing formula.

The president gave in to the pressure, saying last year’s formula was going to be used to avoid a scenario where some counties will lose money with the new formula set to be adopted as from next year.

Uhuru’s proposals were, however, halted after senators insisted they needed enough time to interrogate the issue.

On Wednesday, the Council of Governors (CoG) through its chair Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, directed all counties to shut down all unessential services in the counties over budgetary constraints.

In an advisory dispatched to county chiefs, Council of Governors Chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya attributed the decision to the stalemate over revenue sharing formula at the Senate.

His advisory was, however, rubbished by senators, with the Senate Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio and his minority counterpart James Orengo writing to the COPG informing it not to shut the operations since advanced agreements had been reached by the senate committee.

White smoke finally!

— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) September 17, 2020

To all the undersigned colleagues, Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/K4tLIZ8cmh

— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) September 17, 2020