By Mwenda Njeru
Worth Noting:
- “The last time the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ was taken to the Senate for debate, Tharaka Nithi County was losing a lot of money and that is why we can’t support such a proposal,” said Mr Njuki during a recent meeting with President Ruto in Nakuru.
- He said the Parliament should come up with a revenue sharing formula that does not disadvantage any county so that all the parts of the country can develop.
- According to Gachagua and the other proponents of the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ revenue sharing formula, money should be shared by individuals.
Tharaka Nithi County leaders led by Governor Muthomi Njuki have opposed the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ revenue-sharing formula debate championed by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The leaders have said the formula also opposed by President William Ruto does not promote unity in the country because it disadvantages counties which are less populated.
The leaders argue that some regions including Tharaka Nithi, Lamu and several other counties in have been marginalized in terms of development since independence and DP’s formula would only disadvantage them more.
“The last time the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ was taken to the Senate for debate, Tharaka Nithi County was losing a lot of money and that is why we can’t support such a proposal,” said Mr Njuki during a recent meeting with President Ruto in Nakuru.
He said the Parliament should come up with a revenue sharing formula that does not disadvantage any county so that all the parts of the country can develop.
According to Gachagua and the other proponents of the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ revenue sharing formula, money should be shared by individuals.
Speaking yesterday in Iriga village in Muthambi ward, Maara constituency during the burial of Bishop Ragu Njagi Mukira, the father to Tharaka Nithi Deputy Governor Nyaga Muisrael, county leaders led by Administration Executive Muthini Karangi, Karingani Member of County Assembly Murithi Gaturo and his Muthambi counterpart Moris Maugu also faulted the ‘one man, one vote, one shilling’ formula.
Mr Maugu said Mt Kenya West which mainly comprises of Kikuyu community which has a huge population does not even care about the other Mt Kenya counties like Tharaka Nithi.
“If such a revenue sharing formula is adopted, Tharaka-Nithi County will lose close to Sh1 billion every financial year,” said Mr Maugu.
Mr Gaturo asked the county leadership and the residents to fiercely oppose the ‘divisive’ formula should it be advanced to the parliament.
On the witnessed ideological differences between President Ruto and his deputy, Njuki said he could not afford to run away from the government to the opposition just less than two years after the elections.
He said in the government, most of Mt Kenya leaders run away from Uhuru Kenyatta’s government leaving those from Western, Nyanza and Ukambani enjoying development.
“I cannot afford to get into the bush to fight the government as early as now because I will disadvantage my people. I also cannot run away from this government which we suffered so much to put in place,” said Njuki.
Mr Muthini asked the county leaders to keep off the Ruto-Rigathi ‘fights’ and concentrate on lobbying for their constituents noting that already the county government is suffering from a lack of finances.
Bishop Ragu who was the national chairperson of all OFCAM churches until his retirement on December 8, 2019 was eulogized as a great man who not only promoted the church but also championed development in the region.
During the burial ceremony, leaders appealed to residents of Maara constituency to consider electing Mr Muisrael as their Member of Parliament in 2027.
Mr Maugu touted Muisrael as a peaceful person and development-oriented leader who has greatly helped his people since 2007 when he joined politics as a councilor.
Muisrael lauded the county leaders and residents for their great support during the mourning period and for ensuring that they rest their father peacefully.
