Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is set to face rebellion when the Senate meets to discuss the revenue sharing formula for counties on Tuesday, July 28.
A section of ODM Senators vowed to reject Odinga's directive on the revenue bill he gave on Monday, July 27. In a statement, the former premier noted that it was the high time the lawmakers adopted the formula that originated from the Commission for Revenue Allocation.
This was after the Senate failed to settle down on an agreed formula, with Jubilee and opposition Senators differing in public. This forced Odinga's intervention as President Uhuru Kenyatta also summoned his Jubilee Senators for a Parliamentary Group meeting to prevent the issue from getting out of hand.
Those urging Senators to reject the bill are ODM's Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta). Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Issa Juma Boy (Kwale), Jubilee's Anwar Loitiptip (Lamu) and Wiper's Ali Wario (Tana River).
"This is not about party positions but personal to us Senators from the Coast. We will be further marginalised if this bill is passed. Our region has for long been neglected. We are not going to give in for the sake of devolution. The basic amount that any county should get is the shareable revenue in the last financial year," Madzayo stated on Monday, July 27.
Mwaruma added that the counties had already passed budgets adopting a different formula willl affect development plans in the region.
Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina, however, urged the Senators to rally behind the party and the country by supporting the bill to end the impasses in Senate.
"There is no way we will be divided on this. We shall vote for Kenya and we will not divide Kenya. My brothers in the Coast, North and Eastern regions, we must stand together on this," Ledama tweeted.
Senate Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kang'ata lauded ODM leader Raila Odinga's rallying call to Senators. Kang'ata had earlier on questioned the support of ODM politicians, arguing that their decision to reject the bill would dent the future of the Building Bridges Initiative and the handshake.
"We appreciate the bold statement by Raila on this matter. It moves the discussion forward. I do also celebrate other national leaders (among them Deputy President William Ruto) who have issued statements on the matter," Kang'ata stated.
Ruto also advised Senators to agree on one revenue sharing formula. On Tuesday, July 28, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja and his Makueni counterpart Mutula Kilonzo Junior will move an amendment seeking to have the Senators back the bill.
