Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed governors for asking for an increment in the counties’ allocation to Sh425 billion, saying the government has no money.
While speaking in Mombasa during the MPs’ Post-Election Seminar on Thursday, February 2, DP Gachagua noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration is broke and unable to comply with the governors ‘requests.
“They are asking for Sh425 billion. SRC is saying that in our scheme of mathematics, you can give Sh407 billion. The national government is saying that is good, SH407 billion is even better, we can give it to you, but we don’t have it, we only have 380 billion,” he said.
“So, if you want to hang us, we are helpless! If you want to remove our trousers and whip us on, go ahead, we don’t have the money! We are people who will tell the truth. What we don’t want to do is to cheat governors that we will give them money which we don’t have.” DP Gachagua added.
The deputy president echoed that the government could only afford to allocate between Sh380 and Sh385 billion. This is about Sh40 billion less of what the governors are asking for.
Also Read: Governors Decry Low County Allocation in 2023/24 Budget
Furthermore, the deputy president acknowledged that the government is having trouble paying the monthly payouts to counties.
However, he emphasized that it would be a great lie for the state to allocate Sh425 billion when it is evident that it is having trouble paying Sh370 billion that was authorized in the budget.
Moreover, DP Gachagua noted that the governors should not expect President William Ruto to pay more than the budget allocation, citing the challenging economic climate.
“President Ruto and I are Christians, and we swore with the Bible before God and the people of Kenya to always speak the truth, we have no Sh 425 billion to give to the governors, we do not have Sh 407, we will try to look for the sh.385 billion and we are not promising we will try.” Stated the DP.
In addition, Gachagua stated that if the Kenya Kwanza administration were successful in increasing tax collection from Sh 2.2 to Sh 3 trillion, the county distribution would be revisited.
Also Read: DP Gachagua Urges MPs to Carry Out their Oversight Role Fearlessly
Nonetheless, the deputy president’s remarks came following the statement by Kakamega Governor and Chair of the Council of Governor’s Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs committee Fernandes Barasa who urged the state to allocate sh. 425 billion to assist counties in delivering services.
