Border counties press Senate for extra resource allocation, revenue control
Busia Governor Paul Otuoma said that relying solely on equitable revenue sharing and local collections is not enough for counties like his, which face additional pressures due to cross-border traffic.
Counties along Kenya’s borders are pressing for a share of the Equalisation Fund, arguing that their financial needs exceed what national allocations currently cover.
Frontier counties are also pushing to gain approval to collect levies on trucks and trailers passing through border points to strengthen local resources.
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Busia Governor Paul Otuoma said that relying solely on equitable revenue sharing and local collections is not enough for counties like his, which face additional pressures due to cross-border traffic.
Speaking during a meeting with Senate leaders at his office on Wednesday, he highlighted that the county often provides vital services, including healthcare, to Ugandans who enter the region.
“Frontier counties face unique challenges because of the free movement of people, which continues to put a strain on our infrastructure and health facilities,” Otuoma said.
He added: “We urge the Senate to look at us differently because we shoulder more than other counties. You plan for a certain population, but that jumps by 30 per cent due to the influx from Uganda.”
The governor further stressed that, beyond receiving a share of the Equalisation Fund, Busia should be allowed to impose fees on transit vehicles passing through its two major border posts, Malaba and Busia, as a way to boost revenue.
As a key corridor for trade between Kenya and Uganda, Busia handles about 1,800 long-distance trucks daily through its two one-stop border posts. Despite this, the county earns very little from the heavy flow of goods, even though the majority of cargo from the Port of Mombasa passes through the area.
Otuoma noted that while Mombasa County benefits substantially from port-related revenues, Busia struggles to meet its financial obligations.
He said that the county currently collects just over Sh530 million annually in local revenue, including hospital fees, but the amount could grow significantly if allowed to levy charges on transit trucks.
“We are facing serious infrastructure and service delivery challenges because of limited budgets,” Otuoma said, stressing the pressure caused by both residents and the transient population from Uganda.
Last year, plans to introduce a cess on long-distance trucks were halted following objections from transporters, but the governor maintains that frontier counties should not be left out of national initiatives designed to reduce disparities and support development.
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