President Uhuru’s errand boy in the Senate, Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata has accused senators allied to Deputy President William Ruto of sabotaging efforts to revolve the stalemate over the revenue sharing formula.
According to the Murang’a’s Senator, Ruto’s men are fighting efforts by President Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga to reach an agreement in the revenue sharing formula.
Over the weekend a group mainly consisting of younger senators calling themselves “Team Kenya” that last week opposed the formula organized various meetings to firm up their members.
Senators whose counties would lose if the formula is passed have vowed to shoot down the proposed amendments even that spearheaded by Nominated Senator Petronilla Were.
According to Senator Kang’ata most counties in the Rift Valley are the biggest beneficiary of the new formula but Senators from the DP’s backyard have been “whipped” to oppose the government-backed formula for political gain.
“Some counties in the Rift Valley who are the biggest beneficiaries of the revenue formula, their senators are opposing it despite the fact that they are gaining millions,” Kang’ata told a local publication.
“They have decided to oppose it because the Mt Kenya region is part of the beneficiaries. But they are ready to sacrifice at the altar of political convenience to ensure Mt Kenya does not benefit from even a shilling,” he alleged.
Kang’ata further said senators from a region of certain politicians despite being the biggest winner in the formula are no longer supporting the formula since according to him “somebody has called them”.
Kang’ata alleged that Senators, Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Christopher Langat (Bomet), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Cleophas Malala (Kakamega) and Mohamed Mohamud (Mandera) have been manipulated by “forces” outside the senate.
Kang’ata’s allegation comes barely a week after both Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio also accused Murkomen and his team of mischief and acting in a bad faith in the deadlock over the revenue sharing formula debate.
But Senator Murkomen quickly dismissed Kang’ata argument, saying though his county stood to gain, he had the responsibility to protect other regions.
- Irungu Kangata’s motion on revenue sharing formula defeated
- Did The Senators Eat Uhuru’s 5 Million, And Failed To Deliver?
- Politicians Urge The Senate To Reject Sakaja’s Resignation
- There Will Be No Murkomen’s Motion, Orengo Says
“I will not, in good conscience support the formula that seeks to rob and starve small and marginalized counties just to ensure my county gains; because today these marginalized counties that are on the chopping board but tomorrow it will those that are gaining today,” Murkomen said.
