Ongeza Mzigo or Punguza Mzigo? Governors set to declare stand over revenue row referendum -CoG

CoG chairman Wycliffe Oparanya. PHOTO | FILE

Counties still have by 16th September 2016 to operate before the shutdown starts. According to the CoG chairman Wycliffe Oparanya, there will be an emergency meeting which will determine the final step in the county operations. In the meeting the governors will discuss if they will support BBI or not.


The Council of Governors (CoG) is set to meet county representatives to determine whether they will support the Building Bridges Initiative or pursue their Ugatuzi initiative.


 “We’re calling for a referendum because we want more resources to be channeled to counties. At the moment, our focus is to ensure devolution is strengthened so that ordinary Kenyans can benefit from improved services,” he said.


"We have no money to pay workers and sustain other key services, including provision of health services in hospitals. We’re preparing to shut down our operations by mid this month because there is no money in the counties,” Mr Oparanya said.


“In the last audited account, the government released only Sh1.5 trillion in its revenue collection. This amount is not enough to repay the country’s annual debt burden of Sh800 billion and give Sh335 billions to the counties from the remaining Sh700 billion; and expect it to run the national government. Let the governors accept this reality and move on with what is available,” Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, a member of the Justice, Legal Affairs Committee said.


Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani said that National treasury will be able to disburse anything but not more than the national assembly suggestions.