Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba has called on Senators and MPs not to engage in supremacy battles over the Division of Revenue bill.
Speaking while distributing food to the needy in Kitale, Khaemba said most county governments currently rely on funds from the National Government since Covid-19 has affected revenue collection.
He said Treasury should release the cash for July, August, and September so that salaries do not delay.
He regretted that salaries for Tans Nzoia County workers delayed in May because of late disbursement.
On 20th March, the National Assembly approved the Division of Revenue Bill.
The Division of Revenue Bill, which divides allocation between the national and county governments, has remained a contentious issue between the two Houses, often resulting in mediation.
Parliament gave an okay for shs 316 billion to be shared among the Counties.
On May 10, Senators said the current formula for sharing revenues between the National and county governments is obsolete.
The formula uses population, land area and poverty indicators but the lawmakers want a new one put in place.
Article 217 of the Constitution stipulates that the revenue-sharing formula be reviewed every five years.
The last formula was reviewed five years ago.
The Senators criticized the Budget and Finance Committee for sitting on a formula proposed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation more than a year ago.
The proposed formula has adopted a sector-specific funding approach.
The Senators halted the process of approving the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2020 until a new method was tabled.
The proposed formula weights the performance and pressure of the population on specific sectors, fiscal discipline and accountability and revenue performance.
For instance, the health sector has been assigned a weight of 15 per cent.
The commission combined the uninsured, inpatient and outpatient parameters to come up with the index.
This stalemate may delay dispersal of funds to the Counties.
Khaemba thanked President Uhuru for awarding his county sh.117 million after all 47 counties were allocated sh 5 billion in the to fight against Covid-19.
He said he is under pressure to equip the new referral hospital with 300 beds in a month as directed by the President.
“The beds need a building, and that building should be a hospital. As you all know, I need more money to fully complete my referral hospital” he said.
He said the Kitale District Hospital has only 320 beds.
The Governor gave out his personal food donations worth shs 1.6 million.
He was accompanied by Deputy Governor Stanley Tarus and County secretary Sifuna Wakofula.
Agriculture CEC Mary Nzomo, Health CEC Claire Wanyama and Public service management chief officer Robert Masinde with his Agriculture counterpart Robert Musikoyo were present.
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