Senators on Thursday expressed their satisfaction after striking a deal regarding the Third Basis Revenue Formula
The debate caused a standoff among the Senate members for several months as two opposing factions emerged.
Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata and a number of his counterparts had backed a formula that was perceived to have revenue allocated to counties based on population rather than its size.
The formula which was dubbed ‘OneManOneVoteOneShilling’ was however shot down by senators, with the Senate failing to arrive at a consensus 10 times.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had distanced himself from the formula, though saying that it was not fair to assume that all the people in counties perceived as developed were equal.Uhuru: Don’t drag me into Senate debate, it’s not my formulaSays the truth will come out, and that it’s unfair to classify Nairobi as a rich county.
Deputy President William Ruto had urged senators to reach a deal that would not hurt other counties, a win-win situation.
The senators who were representing counties which were to lose out under the formula stood firm and vowed not to change their stand under any intimidation.
Senators Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Mutula Kilonzo Jr. (Makueni, Cleophas Malala (Kakamega) among others coalesced under ‘Team Kenya’ insisting they would only support a formula that would unite the country.
The stalemate led to the formation of a 12-member committee with the representatives from the two sides to try and end the standoff.
The committee was co-chaired by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and Sakaja was trusted to resolve the standoff.
Image: COURTESY
But even as the debate was still on, three senators who were opposing the formula were arrested for different allegations in the wake of the voting day which was to decide the fate of it.
Senators Steve Lelegwe (Samburu), Christopher Langat (Bomet), and Cleophas Malala (Kakamega) were picked by police officers and moved to police stations in their various counties.
Their arrests paralysed the debate, as members unanimously agreed to postpone the debate until the whereabouts of their arrested colleagues was clarified.Senate adjourns special sitting over senators’ arrestsSpeaker tasked security committee to give information on whereabouts of the senators.
