A standoff between the Senate and the National Assembly continues to stall mediation talks on the Division of Revenue Bill, 2025, as both Houses remain deeply divided on the equitable share of revenue to counties.
At the heart of the impasse is the allocation figure, with the National Assembly insisting on Sh410 billion, citing limited fiscal space, while the Senate is pushing for Sh427 billion, pointing to inflationary pressures and growing county responsibilities.
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who co-chairs the mediation committee, defended the National Assembly’s stance. He highlighted that of the projected Sh2.7 trillion revenue, Sh1.1 trillion is already earmarked for debt servicing, leaving little room for upward adjustments. “From our side, climbing up is very, very difficult,” Atandi stated, urging Senators to consider the broader economic constraints.
However, Senate co-chair and Mandera Senator Ali Roba countered, arguing that counties have suffered stagnant funding over the years, despite increasing demands and rising costs. “Revenues to county governments have not been growing as much. It’s only one year that we moved from Sh316 billion to Sh370 billion,” Roba noted, calling for an urgent resolution that reflects current realities.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale strongly advocated for the Sh427 billion figure, emphasizing that counties should not be penalized for national revenue shortfalls. “We want our counties now to take off. The President has affirmed that our economy is improving. Let the National Assembly come up,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Endebess MP Robert Pukose acknowledged that while counties should not bear the brunt of shortfalls, realism must prevail. “If we pass a figure that is unrealistic, we end up with counties accumulating pending bills due to exchequer delays,” he cautioned.
Despite goodwill expressed by both sides, the deadlock underscores the challenge of balancing fiscal prudence with devolved development. Senators insist that equitable sharing of national revenue is a constitutional mandate, not a discretionary act. With time running out, pressure is mounting on both Houses to break the impasse and safeguard service delivery in the counties.
