National Assembly Rejects Senate’s Ksh 60B Amendment of County Allocation Funds
The National Assembly has flatly rejected the Senate’s proposal to add KSh 60 billion to the counties’ budget.
On Tuesday, June 3, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah stood before MPs and made the case. He insisted the economy couldn’t handle the extra amount.
“This Bill, as approved by the House, had about KSh 405 billion,” Ichung’wah said. “The other House amended it and proposed an increase to about KSh 465 billion, that is KSh 60 billion above what was agreed.”
He didn’t stop there.
“Bearing in mind the fiscal space that we have, it may not be practical to increase by KSh 60 billion,” he added.
Therefore, Ichung’wah urged the House to completely reject the Senate’s changes.
“We thought it’s only fair that we reject this amendment by the Senate to allow us to go into early mediation,” he said.
His motion was accepted without opposition. Just like that, the plan to boost county funding hit a wall.
Counties Left in Limbo Again
This standoff now sends the matter to a joint mediation committee. MPs and Senators will once again try to find common ground on the Division of Revenue Bill.
But time is ticking.
Counties are still reeling from previous delays in disbursement. The push-and-pull between the two Houses has often held county operations hostage.
History Repeating Itself?
On November 20, 2024, the two Houses eventually agreed that counties would get KSh 387 billion. That decision followed tense negotiations.
At the time, Budget Committee Chair Ndindi Nyoro declared firmly:
“We cannot afford to give our counties less money than they received in the previous financial year.”
“We have agreed unequivocally and unanimously that our counties deserve resources,” he added.
Now, with the same old battle back on, many fear a repeat of past delays.
What’s Next?
With mediation looming, county governments and their residents wait anxiously. Will the two Houses compromise soon—or will counties face another painful financial drought?
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National Assembly Rejects Senate’s Ksh 60B Amendment of County Allocation Funds
