Senate accused of failure to protect counties interests as shutdown begins due to cash crunch

The Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya addressing the press in Kisumu today where he announced the shutdown of all the 47 counties across the country due to delay by the Senate to pass County Allocation of Revenue Act 2020-Photo Courtesy

 By Dickson Odhiambo

September 16, 2020

 Senate accused of failure to protect counties interests as shutdown begins due to cash crunch

GOVERNORS have faulted the Senate for its alleged failure to protect the interest of counties as Council of Governors announces shutdown to all the 47 counties across the nation beginning this Thursday due to cash crunch.

Through the Council of Governors, the Governors say enough is enough on the issue of failure by the Senate to come up a formula for sharing the revenues by the Counties during this financial year.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today, the Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya said they have resorted to shutting down all the counties since the Senate has not passed the County Allocation of Revenue Act 2020 three months since this financial year begun in July this year.

Oparanya says despite the notice and appeal to the Senate to resolve the revenue impasse, the Senate has to date failed to pass the formula leaving the counties with no choice but to close down.

“We have also called upon the National Treasury to release at least 50 percent of the equitable share of revenue as allowed by Section 134 of the Public Finance Management Regulations 2015,” Oparanya says in a press statement.

The Council of Governors says it is absurd that despite their constitutional mandate, the Senate has failed to protect the interest of the counties and their Governments.

“It seems like the Senate has just woken from their slumber that they have been for five years. They knew about the formula five years ago, yet they have continuously treated the country to theatrics during the ten times they have convened to consider the formula. Enough is enough, adds Oparanya in the press statement.

The Council of Governors resolve that they will use little revenue they collect to sustain services like health care especially those who have already been admitted in the health facilities.

“Critical cases will be referred to Private hospitals until this issue if fully resolved. This is because most of the Government hospitals don’t have drugs,” the Council of Governors says.

He says services like provision of water to the residents and paying electricity Bills will be given priority.

Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyong’o says the Council of Governors have been very patient enough, adding that during the last three months they have been proactive.

“I must thank President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Chair of the Council of Governors have engage regularly to make sure that both the national and County Governments implement the section of the Constitution which says we have 48 Governments comprising of one National Government and 47 County Governments separate but interdependence,” Nyong’o says.

Nyong’o says Governors should not keep on pretending that there is nothing wrong three months down the line and the Center can’t hold any more.

 “We expect the Senate to woke up from its slumber and perform its functions. Members of the public should know that the responsibility squarely lies with the Senate and not the 48 Governments,” Nyong’o adds.

However, the Senate has also faulted the Council of Governors move to shut down the counties due to the delay by the Senate to pass the County Allocation of Revenue Act 2020.

ENDS: