Kimani Ichung’wah Poles Holes in Deputy President’s ‘One-Man-One-Shilling’ Proposal
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has criticized Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s proposal for a ‘one-man-one-shilling’ county revenue-sharing formula.
On Sunday, Gachagua expressed his intention to advocate for this method, which prioritizes counties’ populations over their geographical sizes, to ensure equitable and fair distribution of national revenue among the devolved units.
However, Ichung’wah argues that population alone should not determine counties’ revenue shares. He points out that some less populous counties generate more revenue than their more populated counterparts.
He cited Kwale County as an example, noting that despite its small size and relative poverty, its revenue from tourism and base titanium surpasses that of larger, more populated, and less impoverished counties, according to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) records.
Ichung’wah acknowledged that Gachagua’s proposal is worth discussing but emphasized that the debate should be informed by knowledge and empirical data rather than emotions.
The Deputy President’s comments have stirred reactions within President William Ruto’s UDA Party, to which both he and Ichung’wah belong.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, also a UDA member, criticized the proposal on Wednesday, calling it discriminatory against sparsely populated and marginalized counties such as Tana River, Garissa, and Isiolo.
Mungatana expressed his disagreement, stating his belief in ‘one-man-one-vote-one-square-kilometer’ and warned that Gachagua’s stance could alienate important counties and jeopardize his presidential ambitions. He emphasized that the Deputy President’s position does not reflect UDA’s official stance.
The senator insisted that Gachagua should have consulted party members before making public statements, and he felt compelled to publicly disagree with the Deputy President’s position.
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Gachagua reiterated on Sunday that the formula is crucial for development in the Mount Kenya region.
The Deputy President argued that revenue sharing should reflect population sizes, as more people result in higher tax contributions, which should translate into more resources.
Currently, county governments use a revenue allocation system based on landmass rather than population.
The Constitution’s Article 202 (1) mandates that nationally raised revenue be shared equitably between national and county governments.
Additionally, Section 2 allows for additional allocations to county governments from the national revenue share, either conditionally or unconditionally.
Gachagua’s proposal is reminiscent of one made by Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji in March 2023.
Mukunji’s proposal addressed the Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) allocation, arguing that constituencies with higher populations should receive more funds than those with fewer residents to prevent financial disparities.
Kimani Ichung’wah Poles Holes in Deputy President’s ‘One-Man-One-Shilling’ Proposal