Clerics claim Mt Kenya got a raw deal in revenue sharing

Mt Kenya got a raw deal in the revenue sharing formula unanimously passed  by senators last week, a group of religious leaders from the region claimed on Tuesday.

The clerics from Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Nyandarua and Kirinyaga counties regretted that senators abandoned the initially proposed formula based on the  one vote, one shilling that would have enabled Central Kenya counties receive more money owing to their population.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, bishop Johanna Ndirangu from Bible Truth Church, the Clergy blamed the raw deal to lack of vibrant local leaders to lobby other senators to support the formula that would have seen the trickling of more funds to the region counties.

Despite the region being a major generator of revenue and having a high population, the clergymen regretted that the senators considered other factors that saw sparsely populated counties win big in the new formula. Speaking during a prayer meeting in Thika town, the men of God  continued to emphasise that the region lost in the new formula.

“We lost because there was no vibrancy in lobbying our own senators to support a formula that would have seen us get more money. While we expected to gain more, the status quo remained and counties with less population and huge land masses managed to take billions home,” said Ndirangu. 

The clerics pointed out that the church has started the process of scrutinising leaders who have shown interest to take over the region’s leadership after 2022.

Thorough analysis

After thorough analysis, the priests said they had thrown their weight behind former Cabinet Minister Joseph Nyaga to take the mantle after President Uhuru Kenyatta exits stage.

Nyaga, a veteran politician,  was President Uhuru’s advisor on regional integration in 2013-17 before he resigned from his position to contest for the country’s coveted seat on an Independent ticket. 

The former minister was also part of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s pentagon movement in the wake of the 2007 General Election. 

Other leaders who have been salivating for the region’s kingpin position are former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo. 

But the clerics said after weighing their abilities and transparency in leadership, they settled on Nyaga who they termed as having no blemish in corruption cases alongside his leadership experience.

“We are more than sure that Nyaga would better fit in the shoes of the President to salvage the region from the slavery of dwindling returns of coffee, tea and avocados,” noted the bishop.

His sentiments were echoed by Bishop Elijah Mburu, who termed Nyaga as a veteran, down to earth leader, who is well conversant with economic challenges facing the region.