Pressure is mounting on Majority leader of the National Assembly Aden Duale to relinquish his membership at the division of revenue mediation team.
Machakos governor Alfred Mutua says Duale is driving a wedge between members and is not fit to hold a position in the caucus.
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka is however calling for patience even as he assured Kenyans of an expeditious solution to the protracted stalemate.
Mutua says continued presence of Duale in the talks is dragging the process away from any possible solution to the stalemate leading to more paralysis in the counties.
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“We have noticed, and it is in the public domain, that National Assembly Leader Aden Duale has taken hard-line positions and publicly declared his stance. We respect him but feel that as the Majority Leader, the negotiations are not at his stage yet. His presence is not helping but perpetuating differences as Kenyans suffer and die,” Dr Mutua said.
The governor said an urgent solution and consensus was needed to ensure normalcy resumes in the devolved units.
“We humbly urge him to recuse himself from the mediation process and let others deal with the issue. If they are unable, then the majority leaders can now come in” he said.
“Let me reiterate that it is important a solution is found soon for the sake of the country and also to enable President Uhuru Kenyatta’s agenda to succeed. Every day that passes with no solution, Kenyans get poorer as President’s plans are technically scuttled” Mutua added..
We respect Majority Leader, Hon. Duale, but we feel that his presence is not helping Kenyans during this Division of Revenue mediation process. pic.twitter.com/Ds0KUV39pr
— Dr. Alfred Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) August 21, 2019
National Assembly representatives in the committee want the Senate to endorse the Ksh.316.5 billion proposed allocation to counties, while senators have stuck to Ksh.335.6 billion.
Duale in a rejoinder lashed out at Mutua saying his remarks were not genuine.
Ukweli wa Mambo:The Facts. To Governor Mutua @DrAlfredMutua, the face of ignorance and cheap publicity has once again perfected his art of yapping. We know he wants to score cheap political publicity in another arm of Government.
— Hon. Aden Duale (@HonAdenDuale) August 21, 2019
He says the amount of revenue collected by counties remain minimal despite the counties having been enabled by the Constitution to realise revenue through taxation of levies and rates.
He observed that the national government continues to bear the shortfall adding that the team should be advised by facts.
“The minimal collection by counties is attributable to lack of transparent and accountable collection systems giving room for corruption”.
And as members maintain hard line stance, county workers continue to bear the brunt of the stalemate.
In Nyandarua, Governor Francis Kimemia has sacked four members of the county executive in a move aimed at streamlining service delivery in his county.
The four CEC’s were relieved of their duties a cabinet meeting that discussed their performance in office in the last two year.
In Kiambu, casual workers were protesting against a directive to terminate their employment by the county.
Deputy Governor James Nyoro recently threatened to get rid of workers whose terms are unspecified.