Deputy President William Ruto on Monday, July 27, broke his silence on the Senate impasse on the formula for revenue allocation to counties.
Ruto called for equitable distribution of resources that will benefit every county without putting others at a disadvantage.
"The ongoing revenue formula debate is unnecessarily divisive.The Constitution envisages fair and equitable sharing of all our resources."
"The legislature must as per its mandate structure a win-win formula that is sensitive to proposals made without hurting any county," noted Ruto.
The Deputy President's allies have been viewed as the key to break that current Senate impasse which has pitted ODM party leader Raila Odinga against President Uhuru Kenyatta, threatening the March 2018 handshake that birthed the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Uhuru faces a tough dilemma to please his Mount Kenya region that has slowly been shifting it's alliance to Ruto and maintaining his relationship with Raila.
The Tangatanga faction of the ruling Jubilee Party has opposed the new formula for revenue allocation which they say stands to disadvantage 19 counties that are sparsely populated as they are set to lose up to Ksh17 billion which will be split by the rest of the counties.
Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) and Christopher Lang'ata (Bomet) are the notable Ruto allies opposed to the new formula.
The formula has new factors for determining revenue allocation which include include devolved functions, such as health and agriculture, population and service delivery.
Ruto is also caught in crossroads as he aims to gather support from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region which supports the new formula that will see them benefit from billions.
Murang'a Senator Irungu Lang'ata asked Ruto's allies to put their differences aside and support the new formula which he argued could break the handshake.
"The President will put all stops to mend fences with the Tangatanga brigade on this and if the government loses the Tuesday vote, then we will be coming together to also collectively as Jubilee family refuse the Handshake and it's attached BBI and all other accrued benefits to parties we have entered into cooperation with," stated Kang'ata.
