“I am not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.” Niccolo Machievelli, author of The Prince 1505.

The Commission on Revenue Allocation’s proposal published on 26th April, 2012 in the print media detailing how it intended to distribute the 15% of the National Budget to the 47 Counties in 2012 to 2013 budget must be interrogated thoroughly by the residents of Western Province and North Rift.

The Devolved County Governance will be depending on when the next General Elections are held, come into operation in the course of the 2012 to 2013 financial year and it is obvious therefore that the fate of the financial allocations to the first County Governments will finally be determined by the current Parliament and without the input of those who will be elected to occupy the various offices at the County Level.

West fm states that it is incumbent upon the present elected Members of Parliament, Councilors, aspiring candidates for the County offices of Governor, Deputy Governor, County representatives, County Speakers and all other stakeholders of the various Counties in the region to constructively, critically, rigorously, intelligently and strategically engage, interrogate and advance the best interest of the Counties in the region to the Commission of Revenue Allocation and Parliament now rather than later to be able to attract financial allocations commensurate with the population numbers of each county, the poverty indexes of each County, the historical injustices of each County and all other variables that are legally, Constitutionally material in the way financial resources ought to be distributed to the Counties.

The elected leaders, the aspiring political leaders, the religious leaders, the trade unions, the chambers of commerce of the region and all residents of the region must stand up, speak up, agitate, advocate for, justify, advance their best interests to the Commission on Revenue Allocation now as the process for coming up with the distribution formula of the 15% of the National Budget to the 47 Counties is under way and must be completed in preparation for the financial year 2012-2013 that commences on 1st July, 2012 and with the presentation of the National Budget in June 2012.

The Commission for Revenue Allocation formula for the distribution of the 15% of the National Budget to the 47 Counties as published is anchored on the following criteria:

1. County’s share of population component – 60% 
2. County’s equal share component - 20% 
3. County’s share of poverty component - 12% 
4. County’s share of land area component- 6% 
5. County’s share of fiscal responsibility component – 2% 

Article 202 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 stipulates that the revenue raised nationally shall be shared equitably among the National and County Governments and further that County Governments may be given additional allocations from the National Governments share of the revenue either conditionally or unconditionally Article 203 sets out the parameters of equitable share of national resources that the Commission on Revenue Allocation is trying to interpret in its distribution proposals.The Counties of Western and North Rift are proposed to be allocated the share of revenue per County as follows;

County                          Population                    Total Allocation (Kshs.)

1. Kakamega                     1, 660,651                      5.1 billion 
2. Bungoma                       1, 630,934                      5.0 billion 
3. Vihiga                                 554,622                      1.7 billion 
4. Busia                                  488,075                      1.5 billion
5. Uasin Gishu                        894,179                      2.7 billion 
6. Turkana                               855,399                      2.6 billion
7. Trans Nzoia                        818,757                      2.5 billion 
8. Nandi                                   752,965                      2.3 billion 
9. West Pokot                         512,690                      1.5 billion 
10. Elegeyo Marakwet               369,998                      1.1 billion

Nairobi County with a population of 3,138,369 is proposed to receive the highest allocation of 9.7 billion among all the 47 counties.

West fm states that Nairobi County ought not, repeat ought not to receive the highest of the allocation for many reasons.  The population of Nairobi County of 3.1 million is hugely nomadic.  That population includes many Kenyans with dual or multiple homes.  There are many people from this region who were counted in Nairobi during the census but whose entire families are in Western Province and North Rift.  Nairobi hosts the National Government of Kenya and all the Ministries of Government Headquarters, the UNEP – HABITAT world headquarters, all Foreign Embassies and High Commissions and other International Agencies, institutions all that give it extreme economic advantages and leverages.  Nairobi is receiving huge international grants and loans in billions of shillings to upgrade its infrastructure in roads, railways, the airport, water infrastructure, name it.  Nairobi by virtue of its being the County with the highest per capita of people in employment in Kenya and other advantages in high Rates to the City Council is the one that has to attract the least of the allocation from the Commission of Revenue allocation. Over 60% of Vision 2030 projects under implementation or being completed are in Nairobi and its environs. Thika-Nairobi super highway, the by-passes etc are in Nairobi.  This ought to diminish Nairobi’s share of the County allocations from the Budget.

The Commission on Revenue Allocation is committing the most tragic sin of perpetuating economic injustices under the Constitution of Kenya 2010 in purporting to make Nairobi County the highest recipient of the allocations to the 47 Counties under the Constitution.

West fm hopes that the elected leadership of Western Province and North Rift will vigorously challenge the Micah Cheresem led Commission on Revenue Allocation from perpetuating economic injustices and inequities in the way it proposes to lavish Nairobi County with the lion’s share of the 15% of the National Budgetary Resources set aside by the Constitution for the 47 Counties.  Eternal vigilance is the only way the people of Kenya will ensure justice is the shield and defender of all Kenyans.  The battle for equitable distribution of national resources is on and only those who can fight for their rightful and constitutional share shall survive, thrive and prosper.  The Counties must stand steadfast against the National Government mandarins at Nairobi from perpetuating the status quo of the old Constitutional order that made them less Kenyans and an afterthought in the grand design of the Dreams and Promises of this Country.

WEST FM EDITORIAL©2012