Speaker Kingi suspends revenue formula debate to allow senators time for consensus

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has suspended debate on the new revenue-sharing formula to allow senators time to consult and build consensus before discussions resume.

The decision came after a tense opening to the session, which had been initially scheduled for last Thursday, but was overshadowed by sharp disagreements among senators over the proposed allocation of funds to counties for the next five years.

“I have consulted with the Committee on Budget and Finance Chairperson and agreed that this motion will be moved on May 22, 2025. That gives us roughly two weeks,” Kingi announced during the sitting.

He urged senators to use the break to engage in meaningful dialogue and seek common ground.

“If you encounter difficulties among yourselves and need the speaker or the secretariat to help bring you together to forge a consensus, we will be available,” he said.

Kingi’s move was intended to avoid a repeat of the deadlock that paralysed Senate proceedings in 2020, when debate on the current formula dragged on for ten sittings.

That impasse, driven by divisions along county lines, saw some senators resist changes that would have cut funds to their counties, resulting in intense standoffs and even arrests of some members.

Resolution only came after then-President Uhuru Kenyatta injected an additional Sh53.5 billion into the counties’ allocation, ensuring no region lost funding and allowing the Senate to pass the formula.

Now, a fresh showdown looms with two competing proposals on the table. The Commission on Revenue Allocation’s formula would see at least 31 counties lose revenue, sparking opposition from affected regions.

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