Kiambu Senator  Kimani Wamatangi now wants the third generation formula that will determine funds allocation to counties to reflect the needs of the devolved unit depending on population.

The senator said for devolution to achieve its intended purpose, the right formula must be arrived at and fully implemented.

His sentiments come at a time when campaign to ensure equity in distribution of revenue in counties for a guaranteed balance in development has gained momentum.

Already Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA) has  forwarded proposals for the third generation formula to the Senate for consideration after the current formula was described as unfair. 

“We are in the process of reviewing the formula and we expect that the fresh one will be applied in the 2020 allocation and for us to ensure that we favour the intentions of devolution, we must get the right formula that covers the needs of a each person, both development and service wise if we want to have a nation with balanced development,” he said.

Marginilise counties 

 Wamatangi, who has been pushing the “one man-one-vote-one-shilling” mantra, said the formula which CRA has been applying since the advent of devolution, unless reviewed, will marginalise developed and heavily populated regions.

The Senator, who in 2016 sued CRA over the formula, has been demanding that the population parameter be increased because it’s the only way to favour densely populated counties while the other six favours sparsely populated counties.

Under the current formula, population covers 45 per cent, basic equal share (25 per cent), poverty (20 per cent ), land area (eight per cent) and fiscal responsibility (two per cent), and this,  Wamatangi said leaves the heavily populated counties without money for development.

For instance, this year, Kiambu which has a population of 2.4 million was allocated Sh9.3 billion in 2019 but due to its population, Wamatangi said most of it has been going to recurrent expenditure.

 After deducting recurrent expenditure, the county was left with less than Sh2 billion for development.

Murang’a, he said  is normally left with approximately Sh1.1 billion and Kirinyaga Sh600 million while some less populated counties get over Sh5 billion.