Speaking while introducing debate on the Bill, Duale said the increment represented 33.97 percent of the audited national revenue. The Treasury allocation of Sh198 billion represented 24 percent of the audited national revenue collected in the financial year 2011/2012.
Following the amendment Sh175 billion will be shared equitably between the counties, with the remaining Sh31 billion designated as conditional grants and allocations.
The amendment will be debated on Thursday during the Committee of the Whole House where changes will be considered before it is approved and the forwarded to the Senate.
Members criticised the Treasury for ignoring allocations proposed by the Commission on Revenue Allocation which is constitutionally mandated to propose a formula for sharing of revenue between the national government and County Government.
Suba MP John Mbadi said he would introduce an amendment to increase the allocation to counties from the Sh206.6 billion agreed to “at least Sh230 billion.”
The Commission on Revenue Allocation had told the 10th Parliament that the counties would need Sh237 billion to operate efficiently.
Legislators Bare Shill (Fafi), Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South), Wafula Wamunyinyi, (Kanduyi), Abdikadir Aden (Bambala) said funds proposed to the devolved units will not be sufficient to make them run.
They said they need to see the terms of reference for the new Ministry of Devolution to prevent against attempts by the national government to micromanage the counties.
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed and his Kinangop counterpart Kinyanjui Mburu questioned the basis on which constitutional commissions had been allocated Sh8.7 billion
National Assembly members who contributed to the debate called for an end to the standoff between the CORD and Jubilee Coalitions which has delayed the formation of various departmental committees.
Without the committees, there has also been no opportunity to get input from the public as required by the Constitution and neither the CRA nor the Treasury has been given a chance to state their positions.
MPs Tom Kajwang’ (Ruaraka) and Dalmas Otieno (Rongo) suggested to Speaker Justin Muturi that he facilitate input from the public by having the Clerk of the National Assembly receive the submissions.
However, Muturi ruled that their request would not be possible as a result of the deadlock that has delayed the committees to start working.
“It is the House, in its own wisdom, that has decided to work the way it is doing. There is nothing the chair can do. Whether you will have received communication from the public… that is for you to decide, as long as it is lawfully received,” he added.